ML19340C856
| ML19340C856 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | South Texas  |
| Issue date: | 10/31/1980 |
| From: | Seyfrit K NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION IV) |
| To: | Oprea G HOUSTON LIGHTING & POWER CO. |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8012170825 | |
| Download: ML19340C856 (1) | |
Text
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- .rts NUCLEA3 AEGULATORY COMMIS5eCN 4. %., ),
i REGION IV
[f 611 RYAN PL,.ZA DF'tVE. SulTE 1000 ARLINGTON. TEXAS 76011
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October 31, 1980
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In Reply Refer To:
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[;Q Docket Nos. 50-498/IE Information Notice No. 80-39 i
K i, Csj 50-499/IE Information Notice No. 80-39 2!l" E
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C Houston Lighting & Power Company ATIN:
Mr. G. W. Oprea, Jr.
Executive Vice Presidant Post Office Box 1700 Houston, Texas 77001 Gentlemen:
The enclosed IE Information Notice provides early notification of an event that may have safety significance.
Accordingly, you should review the Information Notice for possible applicability.to your facilities.
No specific action or response is requested at this time; however, contingent upon the results of further staff evaluation, a Bulletin or Circular recom-mending or requesting specific licensee actions may be issued.
If you have questions regarding this matter, please contact me.
Sincerely, R
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/
Karl V. Seyfrit I
Director j*
Enclosures:
1.
IE Information Notice No. 80-39 2.
List of Recently issued IE Infomation Notices 8 012170g2 E
it SSINS No..
6635 Accession No.:
8008220245 UNITED STATES i
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555 IE Information Notice No. 80-39 Date:
October 31, 1980 Page 1 of 1 MALFUNCTION OF SOLEN 0ID VALVES MANUFACTURED BY VALCOR ENGINEERING CORPORATION PURPOSE:
The intent of this Information Notice is to alert holders of construction permits and operating licenses for nuclear power plants of a potentially generic problem involving the malfunctioning of certain solenoid valves manu-factured by the Valcor Engineering Corporation (Valcor).
The solenoid valves so involved are designated as Valcor Valve Model No. V52600-554-1.
Valcor has informed us that these valves have only been supplied to the McGuire facility; however, since these valves were substituted for solenoid valves of another manufacturer that did not meet the requirements of IE Bullet;n No. 79-01 and its amendments, licensees and holders of construction permits should take into account tne problem identified in this Information Notice prior to making any similar substitution.
BACKGROUND:
By TWX dated June 27, 1980, Valcor submitted a preliminary 10 CFR Part 21 Report addressing the malfunctioning of Valcor solenoid valves at the McGuire facility.
The malfunctioning valves have been identified as Valcor Valve Model No. V52600-554-1.
This TWX was subsequently followed by a letter dated July 3, 1980, transmitting a more detailed Part 21 Report entitled, " Quality Assurance Report", a copy of which is attached hereto as Enclosure No. 1.
In brief, the malfunction appears to be an intermittent type wherein the valve fails to cycle from OPEN to CLOSE to OPEN immediately af ter a sustair.ad period of operation in the energized (OPEN) mode. Although the valves are rated for
" continuous operation", Valcor contends that the valves were not designed to meet the operating conditions requiring the immediate cycling from JPEN to CLOSE to OPEN after a sustained period of continuous energization.
A major source of the problem, therefore, may be a misunderstanding of the term
" continuous operation" By letter dated Ju y 14, 1980 to Duke Power Company, is matter entitled, " Outline -
f which is attached hereto as DUPLICATE DOCUMENT Entire document previously entered into system under:
db ANO No. of Pages:
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