ML20037C723
| ML20037C723 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Washington Public Power Supply System |
| Issue date: | 01/16/1981 |
| From: | Engelken R NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION V) |
| To: | Mazur D WASHINGTON PUBLIC POWER SUPPLY SYSTEM |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8102190813 | |
| Download: ML20037C723 (1) | |
Text
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- f Io,g UNITED STATES s
!i f,q NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION g
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".e REGION V h
1990 N. CALIFORNIA BOULEVARD
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,o suin 202, WALNUT CREEK PLAZA e,,,a WALNUT CREEK, CALIFORN!A 94596
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January 16, 1981
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Docket Nos. 50-460, 50-513' Washington Public Power Supply System P. 0. Box 968 a
3000 George Washington Way Richland, Washington 99352 i
Attn: Mr. D. W. P1zur Program Director, WNP-1/4 1
Gentlemen:
4 This Information Notice is provided as an early notification of a possibly i
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 t
Circular or Bulletin will be issued to recommend or request specific licensee actions.
If you have questions regarding this matter, please contact the Director of the appropriate flRC Regional Office.
Sincerely, i
f(<tTh nsLL R. H. Engelken Director
Enclosures:
i 1.
IE Information Notice 2.
Recently Issued IE Ii: formation flotices cc w/ enclosures:
M. E. Witherspoon, Quality Assurance Director, WPPSS l
G. C. Sorensen, WPPSS 4
- 810219 0 F/3.
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s SSINS flo.: 6835 Accession flo. :
8011040254 IN 81-01 UNITED STATES MUCLEAR REGULATORY CCMMISSION OFFICE OF IrlSPECTION AND ENF0P, CEMENT WASHINGTON, D. C.
20555 January 16, 1981 IE INFORMATION t!0TICE NO. 81-01: POSSIBLE FAILURES OF GENERAL ELECTRIC TYPE HFA RELAYS
Purpose:
The intent of this Information flotice is to alert licensees and holders of construction permits of a potentially generic problem involving defective coil spools used in General Electric (GE) type HFA relays.
Such defective relays were recently found at Turkey Point Unit 4 (Docket No. 50-250).
Description of Circumstances:
The defective coil spools are fabricated of either black or clear Lexan, a polycarbonate material that is susceptible to surface cracking when exposed to hydrocarbons.
The concern nere is that sucn surface cracks could ultimately deteriorate to sucn a aegree that relay actuation would be blocked by the resultant debris, thereby inhibiting a renuired safety function.
Indications of the abm mentioned cracks were recently detected on the HFA relays used to sequence the emergency loads on the diesel generators at Turkey Point Unit 4 upon a loss-of-coolant accident coincident with a loss of offsite power. Af ter detecting the cracks, the spare coils in the storeroom were in-spected and, although these coils are new units, one was found to be cracked.
The possible failures of GE tyoe HFA relays highlights two salient points:
(1) HFA relays have had a long history of failures (e.g., GE has issued several Service Infornation Letters (SIL) addressing these relays, the oldest one of which dates back to 1973, and it is anticipated that GE will issue a new SIL in the near future addressing this new concern); (2) the cracking phenomena seems to be similar to that experienced on the cam followers used on GE type SBM switches (e.g., these cam followers are fabricated of Lexan, and after their exposure to hydrocarbons during fabrication (- during maintenance severe cracking resulted.
See IE Information flotice No. 80-13 for additional details.)
The above information identifies means whereby the integrity of a major safety-related system can be jeopardized or compromised by the blocking of relay actuation. Accordingly, this Information flotice is provided as an early notification of a possibly significant matter that is still under review by the NRC staff.
Recipients should, therefore, review the information for possible applicability to their facilities.
Although no specific action or response is requested at this time, further licensee actions may be requested or required pending the outcome of the NRC staff evaluation.
If you have any question regarding this natter, please contact the director of the appropriate f!RC Regional Office.
.s d
IN 81-01 January 16, 1981 RECEMTLY ISSUED IE INFORMATION NOTICES Information Date of Motice No.
Subject Issue Issued to 80-45 Potential Failure of 12/17/80 All PWR facilities BUR Eackup Manual Scram with an OL or CP Capability 80-44 Actuation of ECCS in the 12/16/80 All PWR facilities Recirculation Mode While with an OL or CP in Hot Shutdown 80-43 Failures of the Continuous 12/5/80 All power reactor Water Level Monitor for facilities with OL the Scram Discharge Volume or CP at Dresden Unit No. 2 80-42 Effect of Radiation on 11/24/80 All power reactor Hydraulic Snubber Fluid facilities with OL or CP 80-41 Failure of Swing Check 11/10/80 All power reactor
'!alve in the Decay Heat facilities with an OL P.er: oval System at Davis-or CP Cesse Unit No. 1 80-40 racessive Nitrogen Supply 11/10/80 All power reactor "ressure Actuates Safety-facilities with
'olief '!alve Operation to OL or CP Cause Eeactor Depressur-ization 80-39 "al f unc tions 01 Solenoid 10/31/80 All light water reactor
'!alves Manufactured By facilities with
'!alcor Engineering Corporation OLs or cps 80-38 Cracking in Charging Pump 10/30/80 All PWR facilities Casinq Cladding with an OL or CP 80-37
(:ontainaant Cooler Leaks 10/24/80 All power reactor and.eactor Cavity facilities with Flooding at Indiar. Point OLs or cps Unit 2 OL = Operating Licenses CP = Construction Permits