ML20038C567

Interim Deficiency Rept Re Defective GE Circuit Breakers AKR-30 & AKR-50.Replacement Parts Received & Installed.Addl Tests to Be Completed by 820331

ML20038C567
Person / Time
Site:	Waterford
Issue date:	12/03/1981
From:	Aswell D LOUISIANA POWER & LIGHT CO.
To:	Seyfrit K NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION IV)
References
10CFR-050.55E, 10CFR-50.55E, W3K-81-0436, W3K-81-436, NUDOCS 8112110233
Download: ML20038C567 (5)

Text

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142 DELARONDE STREET POWER & LIGHT P O BOX 6008

• NEW ORLEANS. LOUISlANA 70174 * (504) 366 2345 UbuSI's drsi$

D L ASWELL December 3, 1981 v<. %*,tsow %t.

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' 3-A35.07. 25 Q.7 - r. r s r Mr. K. V. Seyfrit, Director, Region IV '[/**

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U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission -; Ogg P Office of Inspection and Enforcement {g /

O gg7 611 Ryan Plaza Drive, Suite 1000 eg;g 7-Arlington, Texas 76012 9 gj

Subject:

Waterford SES Unit No. 3 ' j- g Docket No. 50-382 Interim Status Report of Significant Construction Deficiency No. 25

" Defective GE Circuit Breakers (AKR-30 and ADR-50)"

Second Interim Report

Reference:

Telecon from L. L. Bass (LP&L) to L. Martin (NRC) on 11/30/81

Dear Mr. Seyfrit:

In accordance with the requirements of 10CFR50.55(e), we are hereby providing two copies of the Interim Status Report of Significant Construction Deficiency No. 25. " Defective GE Circuit Breakers (AKR-30 and AKR-50)."

If you have any questions, please advise.

Very truly yours,

<A!!

D. L. Aswell DLA/LLB/grf Attachment cc: 1) Director Office of Inspection & Enforcement U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D. C. 20555 (with 15 copies of report)

2) Director Office of Management Information and Program Control g U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D. C. 20555

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(with 1 copy of report) b  ;{

8112110233 811203 PDR ADOCK 05000382 g PDR

A LOUISIANA POWER & LIGHT COMPANY WATERFORD SES UNIT No. 3 Interim Status Report of Significant Construction Deficiency No. 25

" Defective GE Circuit Breakers (AKR-30 and AKR-50)"

Reviewed by u /2 [

• R. J. ?fCE14er - Site Manager Date Reviewed by / /

J/ LT Wills - Project Superintendent Date Reviewed by MM ~

[ IM /2 -/'k Date J .f41 art *Pr'oject Lipe'nsing Engineer Reviewed by ,

1. d ~ ~b W. Yabger'- Sr. dent Engineer Date M

Reviewed by m //"/~[/

J. ,06tierrez - Q. A. Sir # Supervisor ~Date November 30, 1981 l

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,a INTERIM STATUS REPORT OF SIGNIFICANT CONSTRUCTION DEFICIENCY NO. 25

" DEFECTIVE GE CIRCUIT BREAKERS (AKR-30 AND AKR-50)"

INTRGDUCTION This report.is submitted pursuant to 10CFR50.55(e). It describes potential fail-ures in the General Electric AKR-30 and AKR-50 Low Voltage Power Circuit Breakers supplied to the Waterford III project. This problem is considered reportable under the requirements of 10CFR50.55(e). To the best of our knowledge, this problem has not been-identified to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission pursuant to 10CFR21.

DESCRIPTION General Electric AKR-30 and AKR-50 Low Voltage Power Circuit Breakers purchased from GE between mid-1976 and December 19, 1980, have been tested by GE and, in a limited number of instances, the electronically operated AKR-50 Low Voltage Power Circuit Breakers have failed to close upon command. Failure occurred after the circuit breaker had been left in the charged position for several hours. The cause of the f ailure was traced to deformation of a lead Teflon sleeve serving as a bearing in the breaker. GE was not aware of any failure in the AKR-30 Cir-cuit Breakers, but the AKR-30 uses the same lead Teflon sleeve and may be sub-ject to the same failure mode.

SAFETY IMPLICATIONS These breakers have been installed in the 480V switchgear. Failure of these breakers to close can inhibit safety-related equipment from operating and thus compromise the safe shutdown of the plant.

CORRECTIVE ACTION Replacement parts to effect corrective action have been received and installed.

During the repairs, five (5) breakers were found to have other damaged parts which require repair by GE at their facility. These five breakers are currently being shipped to GE to effect these repairs. Subsequent to the repairs, these breakers will be shipped back to the Site for reinstallation. At that time, these five (5) breakers along with three (3) others will require in-plant testing to check out their functionability. This will necessitate having a GE technical representative present at the Site to witness this testing. Completion of these repairs and test-ing is anticipated to occur by March 31, 1982, on or before which time a' Final Report will be submitted.

LOUISIANA POWER & LIGHT COMPANY WATERFORD SES UNIT NO. 5 Interim Status Report of Significant Construction Deficiency No. 25

" Defective GE Circuit Breakers (AKR-30 and AKR-50)"

Reviewed by V [

• R. J. W er - Site Manager Date Reviewed by // /

J/ LT Wills - Pr ect Superintendent Date o

Revtewed by b ANY ~

A ?hV / E -/'h J .f41 art *Pr'oject Lip (nsing Engineer Date Reviewed by 1 ../d I M~ ~b W. Yanger'- Sr. dent Engineer Date 0

Reviewed by J /,2"/78/

J. ,G6tierrez - Q. A. Sir # Supervisor ~Date November 30, 1981

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INTERIM STATUS REPORT OF SIGNIFICANT CONSTRUCTION DEFICIENCY NO. 25

" DEFECTIVE GE CIRCUIT BREAKERS (AKR-30 AND AKR-50)"

INTRODUCTION This report is submitted pursuant to 10CFR50.55(e). It describes potential fail-ures in the General Electric AKR-30 and AKR-50 Low Voltage Power Circuit Breakers supplied to the Waterford III project. This problem is considered reportable under the requirements of 10CFR50.55(e). To the best of our knowledge, this problem has not been identified to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission pursuant to 10CFR21.

DESCRIPTION General Electric AKR-30 and AKR-50 Low Voltage Power Circuit Breakers purchased from GE between mid-1976 and December 19, 1980, have been tested by GE and, in a limited number of instances, the electronically operated AKR-50 Low Voltage Power Circuit Breakers have failed to close upon command. Failure occurred after the circuit breaker had been left in the charged position for several hours. The cause of the failure was traced to deformation of a lead Teflon sleeve serving as a bearing in the breaker. GE was not aware of any failure in the AKR-30 Cir-cuit Breakers, but the AKR-30 uses the same lead Teflon sleeve and may be sub-ject to the same failure mode.

SAFETY IMPLICATIONS These breakers have been installed in the 480V switchgear. Failure of these breakers to close can inhibit safety-related equipment from operating and thus compromise the safe shutdown of the plant.

CORRECTIVE ACTION Replacement parts to effect corrective action have been received and installed.

During the repairs, five (5) breakers were found to have other damaged parts which require repair by GE at their facility. These five breakers are currently being shipped to GE to effect these repairs. Subsequent to the repairs, these breakers will be shipped back to the Site for reinstallation. At that time, these five (5) breakers along with three (3) others will require in-plant testing to check out their functionability. This will necessitate having a GE technical representative present at the Site to witness this testing. Completion of these repairs and test-ing is anticipated to occur by March 31, 1982, on or before which time a Final Report will be submitted.