ML20010H838

Interim Deficiency Rept Re Use of Electrically Conductive Cable Pulling Lubricant,Initially Reported on 810805.Conduit Sealing Requirements Will Be Revised.Also Reported Per Part 21

ML20010H838
Person / Time
Site:	Susquehanna
Issue date:	09/21/1981
From:	Curtis N PENNSYLVANIA POWER & LIGHT CO.
To:	Haynes R NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I)
References
REF-PT21-81 10CFR-050.55E, 10CFR-50.55E, PLA-929, NUDOCS 8109290341
Download: ML20010H838 (4)

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@ Pennsylvania Power & Light Company Two North Ninth Street

• Allentown, PA 18101 e 2151770-5151 Norman W. Curtis Vice President-Engineering & Construction-Nuclear 215/ 770-5331 September 21, 1981

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Mr. R. C. Haynes Director, Region I j -

U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

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631 Park Avenue King of Prussia, PA 19406 ~

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&\ u.i. 3 1981n.- Q SUSQUEHANNA STEAM ELECTRIC STATION D hl INTERIM REPORT OF A POTENTIALLY REPORTABLE CONDITION INVOLVING USE OF ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE

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CABLE PULLING LUBRICANT 'N

• ERs 100450/100508 FILES 840-4/821-10 PLA-929

Dear Mr. Haynes:

This letter serves to provide the Commission with an interim repoit of a potentially reportable deficiency involving the use of electrically conductive cable pulling lubricant. The lubricant could degrade safety related electrical equipment if not properly controlled to prevent its migration. The potential deficiency was originally reported by telephone to Mr. L. Narrow of NRC Region I by Mr. A. Sabol of PP&L on August 5, 1981. Mr. Narrow was a 3rised that the. c:ondition was considered potentia'ly reportable under the provisions of 10 CFR 50.55(e) .

The attachme.t to this letter contains a description of the problem, its cause, safety implications and the corrective action taken and planned.

Sinca the details of this report provide information relevant to the reporting requirements of 10 CFR 21, this correspondence is considered to also discharge any formal responsibility PP&L may have in compliance thereto.

We expect to issue a final report on the problems in November, 1981. We trust the Commision will find this information acceptable.

Very truly yours, N. . Cul t,1s Vice President-Engineering & Construction-Nuclear FLW:sab hIl Attachmeat i 8109290341 810921 PDR ADOCK 05000387 S PDR

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Mr. R. C. Hayncs cc: Mr. Victor Stello (15 copies)

Director-Office of Inspection & Enforcement U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555 Mr. G. Mcdonald, Director (1) ,

Office of Management Information A Program Control U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555 Mr. Gary Rhoads U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission P. O. Box 52 Shickshinny, PA 18655 l

J l ' ATTACHMENT TO PLA-929 1

Flaxoap migration into electrical equipment ,

Description of Problem Sherwin-Willians flaxoap is one of the cable pulliny compounds used at Susquehanna

- Steam Electric-Station during the gahle installation process. The low coefficient of friction exhibited by cables lubricated.with flaxosp facilitates cable pulling operations. . Additionally, flaxoap's electrical conductivity tends to expose defects in installed cable when megger tasting is performed.

4 However, Flaxoap's conductivity coupled with its tendency for migration resulted in niectrical equipment damage in a non-class IE electrical panel. The flaxoup migrated l

out or the conduit in which it had been used and caused electrical arcing and burning of the main termination block in the affected electrical panel. Investigation revealed that the conduit raceway involved was totally enclosed (i.e. the conduit raceway ran directly from one electrical panal to the affected electrical panel). It has been postulated that the-potential for similar damage in class lE aquipment could exist.

Cause i A-review of the conduit sealing requirements in Bechtel Drawing E49 revealed that conduit-sea'.ing efforts were directed toward the prevention of external foreign material such as dirt"and moisture from entering electrical equipment. Conduit sealing' require-ments did nst address potential problems due to cable pulling lubricants migrating irto panels or terminal boxes and onto' exposed electrical equipment. _hus, certain types of j

i conduit installations (e.g. totally enclosed raceway) were not required to le sealed.

This created the potential for possible equipment damage due to the flaxoap migration.

Analysis of' Safety Implication l No class 1E equipment damage due to flaxoap migration has been identified to date at Susquehanna Steam Electric Station. However, the fact that flaxcap has been used in both lE and non-lE cable pulls and that the conduit sealing requirements are common to

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i boLh classes, leads to the conclusion that lE circuits installed in conduit'with Flaxoap j may be subject to the same failure mode as the cited non-lE circuit experienced.

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The failure to identify conduit sealing requirements sufficient to preclude flaxcap migration, given an understanding of its conductivity and tendency to migrate,is

( considered a design oversight.

Given the nature and extent of the cited condition, engineering considers it to be a significant deficiency in design-and quality control, thus potentially reportable under 10 CFR 50.55(e). .

I corrective Action i

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The architect engineer has been requested to revise +b. conduit sealing requirements i to address potential problems inherent with the.use of flaxoap as a cable lubricant.

i The revision will require all conduits entering electrical equipment containing exposed terminations or equipment to be sealed.

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ATTACHMENT TO PLA-929 A meeting was held on 7/22/81 at Susquehanna Steam Electric Station to discuss the status of conduit sealing and. establish an action plan for inspection and sealing of, conduits in turned over equipment. The following course of action was agreed upon: .

1. In plant areas previously turned over to PP&L, the electrical equipment will be.re-inspected to. revised conduit sealing requirements by Bechtel and, where necessary,' sealed accordingly.

2. In plant areas not turned over to PP&L which, however, contain systems already turned over, the electrical equipment will be re-inspected to revised corduit sealing requirements and sealed accordingly during area turnover. The re-inspection will be conducted jointly by PP&L Construction and Bechtel' personnel.

3. Information on safety related equipment requiring further conduit sealing due to the new requirements will be provided to PP&L Engineering for safety impact assessment.

Conclusion Re-inspection te ravised conduit sealing requirements and conduit sealing of previously turned over equipment as found necessary is in progress. This action along with the revised conduit sealing requirements imposed on equipment not yet turned cver should eliminate the possibility of equipment damage due to flaxoap migration.

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