ML19345G049
| ML19345G049 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Dresden, Quad Cities, Zion  |
| Issue date: | 01/27/1981 |
| From: | James Keppler NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III) |
| To: | Reed C COMMONWEALTH EDISON CO. |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8102190838 | |
| Download: ML19345G049 (1) | |
Text
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- pa ucg'o, UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION n
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REGION 111
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799 ROOSEVELT ROAD ok E
GLEN ELLYN, ILLINOIS 60137 o
January 27, 1981 Gentlemen:
The enclosed IE Bulletin No. 81-01 is forwarded for your action with regard to your nuclear power facility.
To assist the NRC in evaluating the value/ impact of each bulletin on all licensees, it would be helpful if you would provide an estimate of the manpower expended in the review and preparation of the report (s) required by the bulletin. Please estimate separately the manpower associated with corrective actions required by this bulletin.
Should you have any questions regarding this bulletin or the actions required of you, please contact this office.
Sincerely, ac-dM James G. Kepp er Director
Enclosure:
IE Bulletin No. 81-01 bAbb$$$
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I Docket Nos. 50-10, 50-237, 50-249; 50-254, 50-265; 50-295, 50-304
" Commonwealth Edison Company ATTN:
Mr. Cordell Reed, Vice President Post Office Box 767 Chicago, IL 60690 cc w/ encl:
J. S. Able, Director of Nuclear Licensing D. J. Scott, Station Superintendent N. Kalivianakis, Statioa Superintendent K. Graesser, Station Superintendent Central Files AD/ Licensing AD/ Operating Reactors g
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SSINS No.:
6820 Accession No.:
8005050075 IEB 81-01 UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT WASHINGTON, D.C.
20555 Januarv 27, 1981 IE Bulletin No. 81-01:
SURVEILLANCE OF MECHANICAL SNUBBERS Description of Circumstances:
Several instances of failures of mechanical snubbers supplied by International Nuclear Safeguards Corporation (INC) have been identified that indicate possible deficiencies in these snubbers. A summary of the failures that have occurred is provided below:
1.
On August 9, 1974, the Tennessee Valley Authority submitted event report BFAO-50-260/741W identifying 11 of 14 INC Model MSVA-1A snubbers that were found inoperable on Browns Ferry Nuclear Power Station Unit 2 and subsequently identified 5 of 14 inoperable units on Browns Ferry Nuclear Power Unit No 3.
All of these units were found to be frozen, and the cause was attributed to a failure to lubricate the parts during assembly.
The failed snubbers were replaced with new units produced by the same manufacturer.
2.
On April 12, 1976, the St. Lucie Plant Unit 1 facility of Florida Power and Light Corporation submitted event report No. 50-335-76-9 wherein five INC Model MSVA-1 snubbers were identified as inoperable because they were found to be frozen.
The failures were caused by oxidation on the internals and by improper assembly.
All INC mechanical snubbers were replaced with units produced by another manufacturer.
3.
On April 8, 1977, Iowa Electric Light and Power Company submitted event j
i report No. 77-23 for the Duane Arnold Energy Center facility that identi-fied 13 INC Model 1HSVA-1 Type AS snubbers to be frozen; the cause of failure was attributed to large amounts of interior oxidation.
The units were replaced with those produced by another manufacturer.
4.
On December 5,1979, personnel from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission i
visited Department of Energy (DOE) facilities at Richland, Washington, to obtain information on DOE experience with INC snubbers at the Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF).
The DOE-owned FFTF was equipped with more than 4,000 mechanical pipe restraints (snubbers) supplied by INC.
In 1978, FFTF examined more than 800 of these mechanical snubbers by removing them from their installation and found that 43, or about 5% of those examined, were frozen. The plant was still under construction so the snubbers had seen no service and had been subjected to only normal construction environments for 1 to 2 years.
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l SSINS No.:
6820 Accession No.:
8005050075 l
UNITED STATES MUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT WASHINGTON, D.C.
20555 IE Bulletin No. 81-01 January 27, 1981 Page 1 of 7 SURVEILLANCE OF MECHANICAL SNUBBERS Description of Circumstances:
Several instances of failures of mechanical snubbers supplied by International Nuclear Safeguards Corporation (INC) have been identified that indicate possible deficiencies in these snubbers.
A summary of the failures that have occurred is provided below:
1.
On August 9, 1974, the Tennessee Valley Authority submitted event report l
BFAO-50-260/741W identifying 11 of 14 INC Model MSVA-1A snubbers that l
were found inoperable on Browns Ferry Nuclear Power Station Unit 2 and subsequently identified 5 of 14 inoperable units on Browns Ferry Nuclear Power Unit No 3.
All of these units were found to be frozen, and the cause was attributed to a failure to lubricate the parts during assembly.
The failed snubbers were replaced with new units produced by the same manufacturer.
l 2.
On April 12, 1976, the St. Lucie Plant Unit 1 facility of Florida Power and Light Company submitted event report No. 50-335-76-9 wherein five INC Model MSVA-1 snubbers were identified as inoperable because they were found to be frozen.
The failures were caused by oxidation on the internals and by improper assembly.
All INC mechanical snubbers were replaced with units produced by another manufacturer.
l 3.
On April 8, 1977, Iowa Electric Light and Power Company submitted event report No. 77-23 for the Ouane Arnold Energy Center facility that identi-fied 13 INC Model 1MSVA-1 Type AS snubbers to be frozen; the cause of failure was attributed to large arounts of interior oxidation.
The units were replaced with those produced by another manufacturer.
4.
On December 5, 1979, personnel from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission visited Department of Energy (00E) facilities at Richland, Washington, to obtain information on DOE experience w'+
r Test Facility (FFTF).
The DOE-owned 4,000 mechanical pipe restraints (sn DUPLICATE DOCUMENT FFTF examined more than 800 of these Entire document previously entered into system under:'
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