ML19341B831
| ML19341B831 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Comanche Peak  |
| Issue date: | 01/16/1981 |
| From: | Seyfrit K NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION IV) |
| To: | Gary R TEXAS UTILITIES ELECTRIC CO. (TU ELECTRIC) |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8102270877 | |
| Download: ML19341B831 (1) | |
Text
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ll D dp aon64, UEVITED STATES
[,c NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
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REGION IV k
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611 RYAN PLAZA DRIVE, SUITE 1000 4,,,,,#
ARLINGTON, TEXAS 7C011 In Reply Refer To:
January 16, 1981 RIV Docket Nos.
50-445/IE Information tiotice No. 81-01 50-446/IE Information ilotice No. 81-01
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Texas Utilities Generating Company 3J I
ATTN: Mr. R. J. Gary, Executive Vice i
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- l President and General Manager
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Dallas, Texas 75201
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Gentlemen :
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This IE Information Notice is provided as an early notificaticn of a possibly significant matter.
It is expected that recipients will review the information for possible applicability to their facilities. No specific action or respense is requested at this time.
If further NRC evaluations so indicate, an IE Circular or Bulletin will be issued to reccmmend or request specific licensee actions.
If you have questions regarding this matter, please contact the Director of the appropriate NRC Regional Office.
Sincerely,
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4 Karl V. Se'yfrit Director
Enclosures:
1.
IE Information Notice No. 81-01 2.
List of Recently Issued IE Informaticn Notices t
8:10227 0Dl i
SSINS No..
6835 Accession No.
UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF INSPECTICN AND ENFORCEMENT WASHINGTON, D. C.
20555 IE Information Notice No. 81-01 January 16, 1581 Page 1 of 1 Purcose:
The intent of this Information Notice is to alert licensees and holders of construction permits of a potentially generic problem involving defective coil spools used in General Electric (GE) type HFA relays.
Such defective relays were recently found at Turkey Point Unit 4 (Docket No. 50-250).
Description of Circumstances:
The defective coil spools are fabricated of either black or clear Lexan, a polycarbonate material that is susceptible to surface cracking when exposed to hydrocarbons.
The concern here is that such surface cracks could ultimately deteriorate to such a degree that relay actuation would be blocked by the resultant debris, thereby inhibiting a required safety function.
Indications of the above mentioned cracks were recently detected on the HFA relays used to sequence the emergency loads on the diesel generators at Turkey Point Unit 4 upon a loss-of-coolant accident coincident with a loss of offsite power.
After detecting the cracks, the spare coils in the storeroca were in-spected and, although these coils are new units, one was found to be cracked.
The possible failures of GE type HFA relays highlights two salient points:
(1) HFA relays have had a long history of failures (e.g., GE has issued several Service Information Letters (SIL) addressing these relays, the oldest one of which dates back to 1973, and it is anticipated that GE will issue a new SIL in the near future addressing this new concern); (2) the cracking phenomena see'r.s to be similar to that excerienced on the cam follcwers used on GE type SBM swit nes (e.g., these can folicwers are fabricatec cf Lexan, and after tneir exposure to hydrocaroons curing f abricatica or :aring maintenance severe cracking resultec.
See IE Informatica Notice No. 50-13 for acditional details.)
The above information identifies means whereby tne integrity of a major safety-related syster can de jeccarci:sc cr c:moremised :y :ne biccking of relay actuation.
Accorcingly, :nis Information No: ice is provicec as an early notification of a possicly significan: atter tha. is still uncer review cy tne NRC staff Recipients sncula, therefore, review tne information for possible applicability t0 their facilities.
Altnougn no specific action or resconse is re tested at Inis time, furtner licensee actions may ce requestad or recuired pending the cutccme of the NRC staff evaluation.
If you nave any cuestien regarcing :nis matter, please contact tr.e cirec ce cf the spprcpriate NRC Regional Office.
IE Information flotice No. 81-01 January 16, 1981 LISTING OF RECEllTLY ISSUED IE INFORMATION NOTICES Information Subject Date Issued To Notice No.
Issued 80-39 Malfunctions Of Solenoid 10/31/80 All light water reactor Valves Manufactured By facilities holding Valcor Engineering Corporation power reactor Operating Licenses (OLs) or Construc-tion Permits (cps) 80-40 Excessive Nitrogen 11/7/80 All power facilities Supply Pressure with an Operating License Actuates Safety-Relief (0L) or Construction Valve Operation to Permit (CP)
Cause Reactor Depressuriza-tion 80-41 Failure of Swing Check 11/10/80 All power reactor Valve in the Decay Heat facilities with an Operating Removal System at Davis-License (OL) or Construction Besse Unit No. 1 Permit (CP) 80-42 Effect of Radiation 11/24/30 All power reactor on Hydraulic Snubber Fluid facilities with an Operating License (OL) or Construction Permit (CP) 80-43 Failures of the Continuous 12/5/80 All power reactor Water Level Monitor for facilities with an the Scram Discharge Volume Operating License (0L) at Dresden Unit No. 2 or Construction Permit (CP) 80-44 Actuation of ECCS in the 12/16/80 All power reactor Recirculation Moce 'ahile facilities witn an in Hot Shutdown Operating Licensa (OL) or Construction Permit (CP) 30-25 Potential Failure of 12/17/30 All pressuri:ec water EWR Backup Manual Scram reactor facilities with Capability an Operating License (OL)
Construction Permit (CP)
Er. closure