ML19344F343

Part 21 Rept Re Leaks in Heat Exchanger Tubes of Calandria Type Radwaste Evaporator at Facility.Cause Attributed to Corrosive Attack.Evaporator Unit Out of Svc Pending Repair of Leaks in Tubes & Shell

ML19344F343
Person / Time
Site:	Brunswick
Issue date:	09/03/1980
From:	Bennett R WHITING CORP.
To:
References
REF-PT21-80-277-000 S-2920, NUDOCS 8009150168
Download: ML19344F343 (3)

Text

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PRELIMINARY EVALUATION OF THE' ATTACHED REPORT INDICATES LEAD RESPONSIBILITY F FOLLOWJP AS SWWN BELOW:

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SWENSON g*.sedStb DIVISION OF WHITING CORPORATION HARVEY, ILLINO!S 60426 U.S.A.

AREA CODE 312-331-4000 S*ptember 3,1980 S-2920 l Regn. 70346-48

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Director, Region II U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission ,

101 Marietta Street _ ,,

Suite 3100 -

Atlanta, Georgia Centlemen:

The Svenson Division of Whiting Corporation wishes to advise the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) of a problem which Carolina Power & Light Company (Carolina) recently has experienced with a Swenson Calandria Type Radioactive.

Vaste Evaporator installed at its Southport, North Carolina facility. Although Svenson does not believe that the problem involves a reportable defect as de-fined in 10 C.F.R. Section 21, we deem it appropriate to notify NRC of the problem's existence.

In recent weeks, Svenson answered certain questions raised by Carolina concern- j ing methods of welding to repair leaks in the evaporato'r vessel (which Carolina  ;

had shut down), and subsequently sent a representative to Southport to inspect l the vessel prior to the r.aking of repairs. To confirm the soundness ,of the  !

repairs when ::ade, Carolina hydrostatically tested the evaporator, and advised I Swenson on August 8, 1980~that the test results revealed leaks in the heat exchanger tubes, leading to speculation on Svenson's part that the evaporator's exchanger shell, body and tubes had been subjected to corrosive attack (possibly by sea water or brackish water) and that a leak of radioactive material could result.

Accordingly, Svenson advised Carolina by talex on August 12, 1980 that the evaporator had to be thorouShly inspected and, repaired prior to its reactivation.

On the following day, Svenson telephoned the NBC's Regional Office in Atlanta, 1 Georgia and informed NRC's Mr. Richard Lewis of the situation. )

Our latest information of this matter is that Carolina has kept the evaporator unit out of service pending repair of the leaks in the tubes and sher --*

has asked us to notify it of-the cost of a replacement heat exchanger, cost of which we are now preparing.

The following is a complete list of Svenson Radioactive Waste Evaporators currently installed throughout the world:

l A Subsidiary of Wheetabrato? Frye Inc.

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/' ' Director, Re'gion III' September 3,'1980 '

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission S-2920 .

Regn; 70346-48 Location Type Commonweal'h t Edison Company Natural Circulation, LTV

'f ' Dresden Plant 25,000 pph capacity Enel Senn, Italy

.' Natural Circ lation, LTV i Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation Natural Circulation, LTV

! 9 Mile Point, New York 6,000 pph Capacity Tarapur Atomic Power Prc, -t Natural = Circulation, LTV Tarapur, India 3,000 pph Capacity General Electric Natural Circulation, LTV

, Nuclenor, Spain. 5,000 pph Capacity

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Jersey. Central Power & Light Co. Natural Circulation, LTV Oyster Creek, New Jersey 7,500 pph Capacity Hitachi Natural Circulation, LTV Japan 6,300 pph Capacity

Carolina Power & Light Company Calandria' '

j s' (Brunswick Station) USA 50 GPM Capacity

, Louisiana Power & Light Company Calandria Taf t, Louisiana. USA (3 -Units) 20 GPM Capacity Commonwealth Edison (2. Units) Calandria

Dresden II and'III, USA 25 GPM Capacity Washington Public Power Supply System Calandria Washington,. USA (4 Units) 20 GPM Capacity Portland Public Power Supply System Calandria Portland, Oregon'(2 Units) 20 CPM Capacity Washington PUblic Power Supply System Forced Circulation Washington, USA (4 Units) 10 CPM Capacity Yours.very truly,

. SWENSON-1 Dip 'tingCorpyration Yi

, Annett

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• tor, Office of Inspection & Enforcement A Subsidiaryof Wheelebrator FryeInc.

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