ML19350B342
| ML19350B342 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Fermi  |
| Issue date: | 03/16/1981 |
| From: | James Keppler NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III) |
| To: | Hines E DETROIT EDISON CO. |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8103200297 | |
| Download: ML19350B342 (2) | |
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c UNITED STATES
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION n
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.E REGION 111 g
799 ROOSEVELT ROAD 4
GLEN ELLYN, ILLINOIS 60137 o
March 16, 1981 Gentlemen:
This IE Information Notice No. 81-07 is provided as an early notifi-cation of a possibly significant matter.
It is expected that recipients will review the information for possible applicability to their facilities.
No specific action or response is requested at this time.
If further h7C evaluations so indicate, an IE Circular or Bulletin will be issued to recommend or request specific licensee actions.
If you have questions regarding this matter, please contact this office.
Sincerely,
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James G. Keppler Director
Enclosure:
IE Information Notice No. 81-07 B10820010')
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Docket No. 50-341 The Detroit Edison Company ATTN:
Mr. Edward Hines, Assistant Vice President and Manager Quality Assurance 2000 Second Avenue F
- Detroit, I 48226
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ntral Files' AD/ Licensing i
FAD / Operating Reactors
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' Resident Inspector, RIII-PDR
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' Ronald Callen, Michigan Public i
Service Commission.
Eugene B. Thomas,cJr., Attorney
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SSINS No.: 6835 Accession No.:
8011040267 IN 81-07 UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555 March 16, 1981 IE Information Notice No. 81-07:
POTENTIAL PROBLEM WITH WATER-SOLUBLE PURGE DAM MATERIALS USED DURING INERT GAS WELDING Description of Circumstances:
Recent experiences with water-soluble purge dam materials at several nuclear construction sites have shown the need to develop welding procedures that address the potential for thermally decomposing the purge dam material durins, inert gas. welding or post-weld heat treatment operations.
Specifically, polyvinyl alcohol film manufactured by Chris-Craft Industries was the purge dam material used at these construction sites.
The decomposition of this purge dam material at elevated temperatures causes the materici to lose its solubility in water.
As a result, the purge dam material cannut be completely dissolved during subsequent piping system flushing a'd cieaning operations.
The failure of this material to completely dissolve could cause significant problems during reactor plant operation.
Specimens of, alyvinyl alcohol film were recently obtained from the Mono-Sol Division of Chris-Craft Industries and tested at Franklin lesearch Center (FRC) to determine, among other things, the threshold temperature at which the material becomes insoluble in water.
The results of this test program indicate that (1) the solubility of the purge dam material in water rapidly approaches zero if the material is heated and held at temperatures in excess of 300 F; (2) the purge dam material hardens and becomes difficult to break if subject to temperatures in_the range of 300 F to 400 F, and becomes brittle if heated to 450 F; and (3) purge dam material heated above its threshold temperature is not soluble in commonly used laaoratory solvents.
The inde-pendent testing' laboratory (FRC) therefore concludes that the Mono-Sol poly-vinyl alcohol film will not dissolve during aqueous flushing of the system if the material has-been heated to temperatures in excess of 300 F.
Recommended Actions for Holders of Operating Licenses and Construction Permits:
It is recommended that all' welding operations involving polyvinyl alcohol purge dam materials be governed by procedures that require the material to be' located in areas that are sufficiently removed from heat so that the temperature of the material does not reach 300 F.
No written response to this information notice is required.
If you require additional information with regard to this subject, please contact the appropriate NRC Regional Office.
Attachment:
Recently issued IE Information Notices
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Attachment IN 81-07 March 16, 1981 RECENTLY ISSUED IE INFORMATION NOTICES Information Date of Notice No.
Subject Issue Issued to 81-06 Failure of ITE Model 3/11/81 All power reactor K-600 Circuit Breaker facilities with an OL or CP 81-05 Degraded DC System at 3/13/81 All power. reactor Palisades facilities with an OL or CP 81-04 Cracking in Main Steam 2/27/81 All powe. reactor Lines facilities with an OL 81-03 Checklist for Licensees; 2/12/81 All power reactor Making Notifications of facilities with an Significant Events in OL Accordance with 10 CFR 50.72 81-02.
Transportation of 1/23/81 All Radiography Radiography Devices.
licensees 81-01 Possible Failures of 1/16/81 All power reactor
. General Electric Type facilities with an HFA Relays OL or CP.
80-45 Potential Failure of 12/17/80 All PWR facilities BWR. Backup Manual Scram.
80-44 Actuation of ECCS'in the 12/16/80 All PWR facilities Recirculation' Mode.While with an OL or CP Lin Hot' Shutdown 80-43 Failures of the Continuous.
12/5/80 All power reactor Water Level Monitor for facilities with an the Scram-Discharge Volume-OL or CP at Dresden' Unit No. 2 80-42 Effect of' Radiation on 11/24/80 All power reactor-Hydraulic Snubber Fluid facilities with an OL or CP
'OL = Operating Licenses
'CP = Construction Permits