ML20027B236
| ML20027B236 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | South Texas  |
| Issue date: | 09/03/1982 |
| From: | Opera G, Oprea G HOUSTON LIGHTING & POWER CO. |
| To: | Jay Collins NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION IV) |
| References | |
| REF-PT21-82 10CFR-050.55E, 10CFR-50.55E, ST-HL-881, NUDOCS 8209160566 | |
| Download: ML20027B236 (3) | |
Text
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The Light Company ni<>osu>n ugnung & n,m im>x ivoo ii<,osa,n.rexas 77ooi <7 3> 22s.92ii September 3, 1982 ST-HL-AE-881 File Number: G12.128 SFN: V-0530 BEN!
Mr. John T. Collins C
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Regional Administrator, Region IV Nuclear Regulatory Commission
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611 Ryan Plaza Dr., Suite 1000 J
Arlington, Texas 76012 f
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Dear Mr. Collins:
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South Texas Project Units 1 & 2 Docket Nos. STN 50-498, STN 50-499 First Interim Report Concerning Linitorque Motor Operators On August 5, 1982, Houston Lighting & Power Conpany (HL&P), pursuant to 10CFR50.55(e), notified your office of an iten regarding sheared pinion keys in Limitorque notor coerators.
While performing some valve modification work at a plant site, Westinghouse (W) discovered sheared pinion keys in several valves with Limitorque motor operators.
An evaluation performed by W has determined that the failed pinion keys were made of a low carbon steel rather than the required hardened alloy.
W has determined that a potential safety hazard could exist since the sheareH pinion keys could prevent valves fron perforning their intended safety function.
W no+'.ied the NRC on August 4, 1982 that this iten was reportable pursuant to 10CFR21. A copy of the U report concerning this item is attached i
and is intended to supplement our first interim report.
l Bechtel has identified a number of valves, already received at the South l
Texas Project (STP) site, which have Limitorque notor operators of various l
models. Bechtel is currently performing an evaluation to determine the necessary corrective action.
The next report concerning this item will be submitted to your office by January 28, 1983.
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September 3 1982 0
lionsion 1.ighting & l'ower Company ST-HL-AE-881 File ilumber: G12.128 Page 2 If you should have any questions concerning this item, please contact fir. Ilichael E. Powell at (713)877-3281.
Very truly yours,
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Executive i
President MEP/mg Attachment
Ilouston 1.ighting & l'ower Company cc:
G. W. Oprea, Jr.
September 3, 1982 J. H. Goldberg ST-HL-AE-881 J. G. Dewease File Number: G12.128 J. D. Parsons Page 3 D. G. Barker C. G. Robertson R. A. Frazar J. W. Willians R. J. Maroni J. E. Geiger H. A. Walker S. M. Dew J. T. Collir,s (NRC)
D. E. Sells (NRC)
W. M. Hill, Jr.
(NRC)
M. D. Schwarz (Baker & Botts)
R. Gordon Gooch (Baker & Botts)
J. R. Newman (Lowenstein, Newman, Reis, & Axelrad)
STP RMS Director, Office of Inspection & Enforcement Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D. C. 20555 G. W. Muench/R. L. Range Charles Bechhoefer, Esquire Central Power & Light Company Chairman, Atonic Safety & Licensing Board P. O. Box 2121 U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Corpus Christi, Texas 78403 Washington, D. C.
20555 H. L. Peterson/G. Pokorny Dr. James C. Lamb, III City of Austin 313 Woodhaven Road P. O. Box 1088 Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514 Austin, Texas 78767 J. B. Poston/A, vonRosenberg Mr. Ernest E. Hill City Public Service Board Lawrence Livernore Laboratory P. O. Box 1771 University of California San Antonio, Texas 78296 P. O. Box 808, L-46 Livermore, California 94550 Brian E. Berwick, Esquire William S. Jordan, III Assistant Attorney General Harmon & Weiss for the State of Texas 1725 I Street, N. W.
P. O. Box 12548 Suite 506 Capitol Station Washington, D. C.
20006 Austin, Texas 78711 Lanny Sinkin Citizens for Equitable Utilities, Inc.
Citizens Concerned About Nuclear Power c/o Ms. Peggy Buchorn 5106 Casa Oro Route 1, Box 1684 San Antonio, Texas 78233 Brazoria, Texas 77422 Jay Gutierrez, Esquire Hearing Attorney Office of the Executive Legal Director U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D. C.
20555 Revision Date 08-23-82
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I Westinghou:e Water Rea:!ct k:S Ele:tri: Corporation D! visions FW Fmi.r.mm
' August-6, 1982 tis-E?R-2537 Mr. Richard C. DeYoung, Director Office of Inspection and Enforcement U.S. fluclear Regulatory Comission 7920 t{orfolk Avenue Bethesda, Maryland 20014-
Dear Mr. DeYoung:
On August 4,1982, Mr. Ed Flack of your staff was notified by Westinghouse via telephone that sheared pinion keys in Limitorque motor operators had been discovered during field modifications / inspections of this equipment.
The sheared pinion keys could result in failure of motor operated valves to perform their intended safety function.
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The-Westinghouse Water Reactor Division Safety Review Cc=ittee met on August 3,1982, to consider this item and concluded that the potential f5r-sheared pinion keys in Limitorque motor, operators constituted a Substantial Safety Hazard as defined in 10CFR Part 21 for potentially all Westinghouse plants.
The utility / owners of all Westinghouse plants were notified by telephone on August 4, 1982.
In the course of performing field modifications / inspections on Westinghouse.
supplied valves with Limitorque Model SB-0-25 motor operators, sheared pinion keys were found on six of the operators.
These keys are used to secure the pinion gear to the motor shaft which transmits torque.to the operator.
A matal-lurgical evaluation of the failed pinion keys performed by Uestinghouse indicated that they were of a 1cw carbon steel rather than an available hardened alloy as noted in I&E Information tiotice 81-08.
Westinghouse was unable to obtain sufficient infarriation as to the adequacy of material
' properties of pinion keys in other motor operators supplied by Limitorque.
The lack of rpecific information on pinion key material was the basis for concluding that other models of Limitorque motor operators could be affected.
Westinghouse is continuing to ' pursue this item with Limitorque.
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bs Mr. Richard C. DeYoung August 6, 1982 Prior to identification of the six sheared pinion keys at one specific site, Westinghouse had performed modifications / inspections of other Model S3-0-25 motor operators at thirty-two other plants and found only one other sheared pinion key, however, hardness checks were not made. The possibility of sheared pinion keys had previously been identified for Limitorque Model SMS-4. motor operators as identified in I&E Information Notice 81-08.
Westinghouse has recommended that all utilities review I&E Information Notice 81-08 which dealt exclusively with sheared pinion keys in Limitorque Model SMB-4 motor operators and recognize that other Limitorque models may also be affected.
If you have any additional questions regarding this item, please contact Mr. R. A. Wiesemann (412-373-5132) of my staff.
Very truly yours, 1
l WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC CORPORATION E. P. Rahe, Jr., Manager Nuclear Safety l
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