ML19350B647
| ML19350B647 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | South Texas  |
| Issue date: | 03/16/1981 |
| From: | Seyfrit K NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION IV) |
| To: | Oprea G HOUSTON LIGHTING & POWER CO. |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8103230181 | |
| Download: ML19350B647 (1) | |
Text
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UNITED STATES
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,g NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
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5 REGION IV PDR S
ARUNGTON. TEXAS 76011
.f 611 RYAN Pt.AZA ORIVE, SUITE 1000 51,,
Docket Nos. 50-498 March 16, 1981 CENTRAL FILES 50-499
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.q, ggf /f Houston Lighting & Power Comoany ATTN: Mr. G. W. Oprea, Jr.
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U Executive Vice President
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Post Office Box 1700
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Gentlemen:
Q This IE Infonnation Notice is orovided as an ' ear Stification 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 NRC evaluations so indicate, an IE Circular or Bulletin will be issued to recomend or recuest specific licensee actions.
If you have questions regarding this matter, please contact the Director of the appropriate NRC Regional Office.
Sincerely,7
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Karl V.'Seyfrit
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j Director
Enclosures:
1.
IE Infonnation Notice No. 81-07 l
2.
List of Recently Issued l
IE Infonnation Notices i
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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 IE Information Notice No. 81-07 March 16, 1981 Page 1 of 2 i
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 during 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 material to lose its solubility in water.
As a result, the purge dam material cannot be completely dissolved during subsequent piping system flushing and cleaning operations.
The failure of this mater al to completely dissolve could cause d
significant problems during reactor plant operation.
Specimens of polyvinyl alcohol fil'.1 were recently obtained from the Mono-Sol Division of Chris-Craft Industr'es and tested at Franklin Research 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 approeches zero if the material is heater; and held at temperatures in excess of 300"f; (2) the purge dam material bredens agd becomeg difficult to break if subject to tegperatures 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 laboratory solvents.
The inde-pendent testing-laboratory (FRC) therefore concludes that the Mono-Sol poly-vinyl alcohol film will not dissolve during aqueous flushing of ghe 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 remoged from heat so that the temperature of the materiai dces not reach 300 F.
IN 91-07 March 16, 1981 Page 2 of 2 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.
IE Information Notice No. 81-07 March 16, 1981 LISTING OF RECENTLY ISSUED IE INFORMATION NOTICES Information Subject Date Issued To Notice No.
Issued 80-44 Actuation of ECCS in the 12/16/80 All power reactor Recirculation Mode While facilities with an in Hot Shutdown Operating License (0L) or Construction Permit (CP) 80-45 Potential Failure of 12/17/80 All pressurized water BWR Backup Manual Scram reactor facilities with Capability an Operating License (OL)
Construction Penait (CP) 81-01 Possible Failures of 1/16/81 All power reactor facilities General Electric Type with an Operating License HFA Relays (OL) Construction Permit (CP) 81-02 Transportation of 1/23/81 All Radiography licensees Radiography Devices 81-03 Checklist for Licensees 2/12/81 All power reactor Making Notifications of facilities with an Significant Events in Operating License (0L) and Accordance with Near-term Applicants 10 CFR Part 50.72 81-04 Cracking in Main Steam 2/27/81 All power reactor facilities Lines with an Operating License (OL) or Construction Permit (CP) 81-06 Failure of ITE Model 3/11/81 All power reactor facilities K-600 Circuit Breaker with an Operating License (0L) or Construction Permit (CP) 81-05 Degraded DC System at 3/13/81 All power reactor facilities Palisades with an Operating License (OL) or_ Construction Permit (CP)
Enclosure
SSINS No.: 6835 Accession No.:
8011040267 IN 81-07 UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555 IE Information Notice No. 81-07 March 16, 1981 Page 1 of 2 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 during inert gas welding or post-weld heat treatment operations.
Specifically, polyvinyl alcchol 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 material to lose its solubility in water.
As a result, the purge dam material cannot be completely dissolved dur.ing subsequent piping system flushing and cleaning operations.
The failure of this material to. completely dissolve could cause significant problems during reactor plant operation.
Specimens of polyvinyl alcohol film were recently obtained from the Mono-Sol Division of Chris-Craft Industries and tested at Franklin Research 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 r.pproaghes zero if the material is heated and held at temperatures in excess of 300 F;-(2) the purge dam material hardens agd becomeg 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 laboratory solvents.
The inde-pendent testing laboratory (FRC) therefore concludes that the Mono-Sol poly-vinyl alcohol film will not dissolve dur. 4g aqueous flushing of ghe system if the material has been heated to temperatures in excess.of 309 F.
Recommended Actions for Holders of Ocerating 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 remoged from heat so that the temperature of the material does not reach 300 F.
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