ML20037B297
| ML20037B297 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Dresden, Byron, Braidwood, Quad Cities, Zion, LaSalle  |
| Issue date: | 11/08/1977 |
| From: | James Keppler NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III) |
| To: | Brian Lee COMMONWEALTH EDISON CO. |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8009100973 | |
| Download: ML20037B297 (1) | |
Text
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NOV 0819TI 50-237, 50M '50-254, Docket Kos.
50-265, 5 -
, 5 0-304, 50-3W, 50-374,40-454, 50-455, 50-456, 50-457 Coceanwealth Edison Company ATTN:
Mr. Byron Lee, Jr.
Yice President P. O. Box 767 Chicago, IL 60690 Centlemen:
Enclosed is IE Bulletin No. 77-05 which requires action by you with regard to your power reactor facilities with an operating license or a construction permit.
Should you have questions regarding this Bulletin or the actions required of you, please contact this office.
Sincerely, 9
James C. Keppler Director Enclosures
- 1.
IE Bulletin Ko. 77-05 w/attachaients (2) 2.
List of IE Bulletina Issued in 1977 cc w/enels:
Mr. B. B. Stephenson, Mr. R. Cosaro, Project Station Superintendent Superintendent Mr. E. Kalivianakis, Central Files Station Superintendent Reproduction Unit NRC 20b Mr. F. Wandke, Station PDR Superintendent Local PDR Mr. L. J. Burke, Site MSIC Project Superintendent TIC Mr. Gunner Sorensen, Site Anthony Roissan Esq.,
9 Project Superintendent Attorney p
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.I November 8, 1977 IE Bulletin 77-05 ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR ASSEMBLIES Description of Circumstances Recent tests conducted by the Sandia Laboratories of electrical connector / cable assemblies in a simulated post-LOCA containment environment (LVR) demonstrated that the assembJies failed to perform in an acceptable manner.
The connectors are the pin and socket type, with metal shell and screw couplings.
The specific test specimens were manufactured by Bendix, ITT Cannon and Gulton Industries using combina-tions of Anaconda and ITT Surprenant cables.
Details of the specific connector / cable combinations, test conditions, test results and other pertinent information are described in the Attachment.
While electrical connectors of the type tested are not normally used in applications that are required to survive LOCA conditions, it is not possible in the absence of specific information to conclude that such applications do not exist. Further, it is unknown whether other manu-facturers have supplied similar assemblies, whether such assemblies have been properly qualified for the intended service or whether these type of assemblies are utilized in applications that must continue to operate reliably in a LOCA environment.
Action To Be Taken By Licensees and Permit Holders:
For all power reactor facilities with an operating license or a construction permit:
1.
Determine whether your facility utilizes or plans to utilize electical connector assemblies of the type tested by Sandia Laboratories, or any other similar type, in systems that are located inside containment, are subject to a LOCA environment and are required to be operable during a LOCA.
2.
If any such applications are identified, review the adequacy of qualification testing for the assemblies and submit the documenta-tion for NRC review.
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'I IE Bulletin 77-05 November 8, 1977 3.
If evidence is not available to support a conclusion of adequacy, submit your p3ans and programs toward qualifying existing equipment or your plans for replacing unqualified assemblies with qualified equipment.
4.
Provide your response in writing within 30 days for facilities with an operating license and within 60 days for facilities with a construction permit. Reports should be submitted to the Director of the appropriate NRC Regional Office and a copy should be forwarded to the U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Office of Inspection and Enforcement, Division of Reactor Construction Inspection Washington, D. C.
20555.
Approved by GAO, B180225 (R0072); clearance expires 7-31-80.
Approval was given under a blanket clearance specifically for identified generic problenu.
ht tachments:.
1.
Attachment A, Trip Report by W. R. Rutherford, Electrical Connector Assemblies 2.
Attachment B, Sequential and Simultaneous Test Profile i
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IE Bulletin-77-05 November 8, 1977 TRIP REPORT by W. R. Rutherford ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR ASSEMBLIES On September 1,1977 a meeting was beld in Albuquerque, New Mexico to investigate the electrical connector assembly malfunctions or failures that occurred during tests under LOCA conditions performed by Sandia Laboratories. The following is a description of the equipment, test scope and results of these tests.
Equipment The test assemblies of particular interest consisted of three types of connectors: Bendix, ITT Cannon, and Gulton installed on two types of cables ; Anaconda and ITT Surprenant.
1.
Bendix Connector: A 3 conductor /No. 12 AVO with crimp pin conductors, anodized aluminum shell, silicone rubber insert, rigid back plane potting, pliable over-potting.
2.
ITT Cannon Connector; A 3 conductor /No.12 AWG with crimp pin conductors, anodized aluminu= shell, silicone rubber insert, anodized aluminum back shell, rubber packing boot, mechanical retaining clamp.
3.
Gulton Connector: A 3 conductor /No. 12 AWG with crimp pin conductor, stainless steel shell, hard fiber insert, pin back sealed with RTV 112, stainless shell, back plane poured with Sylgard potting, mechanical clamp termination.
4.
Anaconda Cable: A 3 conductor /No. 12 AWG, tinned copper conductor, 30 mil ethylene propylene rubber insulation 15 mil Hypalon jacket, cable asbestos tape, 60 mil Hypalon jacket, rated 600 volts, cable diameter 0.55".
5.
ITT Surprenant Cable: A 3 conductor /No. 12 AWG, tinned copper conductor, 30 mil Exane II insulation, silicone glass tape, 65 mil Exane jacket, rated 600 volts, cable diameter 0.455".
Attachment A Page 1 of 3
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November 8, 1977 Test Scope The three tests performed by Sardia were composed cf twc sequential and one simultaneous exposure to LOCA environments. In each case the equipment was exposed to radiation and thermal aging prior to operating under the simulated LOCA conditions. Figures 1 and 2 describe the test i
profiles for sequential and simultaneous tests respectively (Sandia tests were designed to study synergistic effects).
Each of the tests satisfy the intent of IEEE 323-1974. The assemblies were electrically loaded to 20 acperes and 600 volts at the start of the tests.
Insulation resistance and capacitance ceasurements were recorded during the tests to indicate damage.
The equipment assemblies with respect to the sequential and simultaneous i
tests perfor=ed were as follows:
1.
Sequential Tests (Two)
Gulton Connector /ITT Cable 1 Assembly Gulton Connector / Anaconda Cable 1 Assembly Bendix Connector /ITT Cable 2 Assemblies ITT Connector /ITT Cable 1 Assembly 2.
Simultaneous Test (One)
ITT Connector /ITT Cable 1 Assembly Bendix Connector /ITT Cabic 1 Assembly Bendix Connector / Anaconda Cable 2 Assemblies Test Results Both ITT Cannon connector assemblies and both Gulton connector assemblies showed almost immediate dacage in terms of insulation resistance and capacitance as the 70 psig stea: vas applied.
The ITT Cannon connector assembly failures appeared to be back plane boot seal leakage failures. The assembly construction did not contain potting compound (by design) to protect the pin backs. Therefore, boot failure leads directly to connector failure.
In the case of the Gulton Assemblies, failures were attributed to both the mating surface interface and the back plane seal. The design uses a rigid insert around the eating pins and the 0-ring seals are Attachment A Fage 2 of 3
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IE Bu11etit-77-05 November 8, 1977 bypassed by an alignment key slot. This design may lead to leaks due to no -uniform confinement of the 0-ring which could cause arcing between pins. Neutron radiography revealed inadequate amounts of potting compound (voids) and cracking of potting compound. These conditions could account for back plane failures. Neutron radiography perforced on untested connectors revealed similar conditions, i.e., voids and cracking, thus indicating an apparent quality control problec at Gulton's facility.
Other problems detected were identified as:
1.
The shrink tube used over the pin cable interface was split lensch-vise and had pulled away.
2.
The potting material showed virtually no adhesion to, or sealing between, the cable jacket, insulation, and the connector shell.
3.
The cer.hanical clamp had been 6ecured so tightly that it cut the cable jacket.
The Bendix connector assembly was the only type to survive an entire test cycle.
One Bendix/ Anaconda assembly malfunctioned after about eight days into the 10 psig profile and the Bendix/ITT assembly experienced decreasing resistance and increasing capacitance through the sicultaneous tests until both readings vere off scale at the end of the 10 psig profile.
A second Bendix/ Anaconda assembly survived the sicultaneous tests. During the sequential tests only Bendix and ITT Cannon assemblies were involved and both assemblies failed. The failures of these assemblies would be difficult to define as either connector or cable f ailures.
The ITT cable exhibited a shrinking characteristic which could have provided a leak path through the sealing medium of the connector.
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e IE Bulletin 77-05 November 8, 1977 LISTING QF II BULLETINS ISSUED IN 1977 Bulletin Subj ect Date Issued Issued To Mo.
77-04 Calculational Error 11/4/77 All PWR Power Affecting the Design Reactor Tacilities Performance of a Syste=
with an Operating for Controlling pH of License (OL) or Contain=ent Su=p Water Contruction Fermit (CP)
Following a LOCA 77-03 On-Line Testing of 9/12/77 All W Power the W Solid State Reactor Tacilities Protection Syste=
with an Operating License (OL) or Construction Fernit (CP) 77-02 Fotential Failure 9/12/77 All Holders of Mechanist in Certain Operating Licenses W AP. Relays with (OL) or Construc-Relays with Latch tion Fermits (CP)
Attachments 77-01 Pneumatic Time 4/29/77 All Holders of Delay Set Point Operating Licenses Drift (OL) or Construc-
- t. ion Fermits (CP)
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