ML20004F790
| ML20004F790 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Wolf Creek, Cooper, Arkansas Nuclear, River Bend, Waterford, South Texas, Comanche Peak, Fort Calhoun, Fort Saint Vrain  |
| Issue date: | 03/06/1981 |
| From: | Madsen G NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION IV) |
| To: | NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION IV) |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8106220377 | |
| Download: ML20004F790 (1) | |
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UNITED STATES
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
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REGION IV f
611 RYAN PL AZA ORIVE. SulTE 1000 ARLING7oN. TEXAS 76011 March 6, 1981 MEMORANDUM FOR: Those Listed Below FROM:
G. L. Madsen, Chief, Reactor Projects Branch, RIV
SUBJECT:
IE BULLETIN N0. 81-01, REV. 1 Subject IE Bulletin has been sent to the following licensees.
A copy is attached for your information.
Arkansas Power & Light Company Gulf State Utilities ANO-1 & 2 (50-313, 50-368)
River Bend (50-458; 50-459)
Nebraska Public Power District Houston Lighting & Power Company Cooper Nuclear Station (50-298)
South Texas (50-498; 50-499)
Omaha Public Power District Kansas Gas & Electric Company Ft. Calhoun Nuclear Station (50-285)
Wolf Creek (STN 50-482)
Public Service Company of Colorado Louisiana Power & Light Company Fort St. Vrain (50-267)
Waterford 3 (50-382)
Texas Utilities Generating Company Comanche Peak (50-445; 50-446)
.hj',~D S W G. L. Madsen, Chief Reactor Projects Branch
Attachment:
As stated DISTRIBUTION:
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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 BFA0-50-260/741W identifying 11 of 14 INC Model MSVA-1A snubbers that were found inoperable on Browns Farry 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 1abricate the parts during assembly.
The failed snubbers were replaced with new units produced by the same manufacturer.
2.
Or. April 12, 1976, the St. Lucie Plant Unit 1 facility of Florida Power and Light Company submitted e"ert 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 suomitted event report No. 77-23 for the Guare Arnold Energy Center facility that icenti-fied 13 INC Model 1MSVA-1 Type AS snuocers to be frozen; tne cause of failure was attributed to large amounts of interior oxidation.
The units were replaced with those produced by another manufacturer.
4.
On Decemoer 5, 1979, personnel from :ne Nuclear Regulatory Commission visited Geoartment of Energy (00E) facilities at Ricalanc, Wasnington, u
wtain information on 00E experience with INC snuabers at the Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF).
The DOE-owned FFTF was equipoec with more than 4,000 mechanical pipe restraints (snuobers) suculied by INC.
In 1979, i
FFTF examinea more than 800 of these mecnanical snubbers by removing tnem i
from their installation and founa that 43, or aoout 5% of tnose examinea, were frozen.
The clant was still under construction so tne snuceers nad seen no service and had been subjected to only normal c::nstruction environments for 1 to 2 years.
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