ML20055J389

Confirms 900709 Telcon Re Incorrect Pressure Drops Across Cooling Coils W/Cleanable Return Bends.Vendor Position That American Air Filter Work &/Or Data Will Not Result in Repetition of Subj Problem W/Other Customers or Users

ML20055J389
Person / Time
Site:	Clinton
Issue date:	07/23/1990
From:	Franklin B AMERICAN AIR FILTER CO.
To:	Brach W Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
IEIN-90-026, IEIN-90-26, NUDOCS 9008020197
Download: ML20055J389 (3)

Text

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e July 23, 1990 United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555  ;

i Attention: Mr. William Brach, Chief Vendor Inspection Branch Division of Reactor Inspection and Safeguards -;

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation  ;

Reference:

Illinois Power /Clinton - Low Water Flow 10 CFR Part 21 Defect 21-90-04 NRC Information Notice No. 90-26 I NRC Letter to AAF of April 28, 1990 Dear Mr. Brach

1. Confirming my telecon in week of 9 July '90, AAF has re--

searched and reviewed the records of a sample of our projects and could. find no evidence of providing incorrect pressure drops across cooling coils with cleanable return bends provided by AAF.

2.

AAF met with Illinois Power and was advised that'the coils are now working satisfactorily after providing the water flow measured in gallons per minute, which quantity was the same as originally advised by AAF.

3. AAF letter of 27 November 94 provided Sargent & Lundy (Architect / Engineer for Illinois Power's Clinton Plant) water flow in gallons per minute'and water pressure drop in feet of water for coils of coolers 1VHO75ALB;'1VHO7SC and 1VRO99 and 12S. The water flow in gallons per minute were 4 correct. The pressure drops in feet of water were for coils without cleanable return bends and were= incorrect. Sargent '

and Lundy had requested this information but did not.tell' AAF that the pressure drops alone would be used to balance their '

systems and that the gallons per minute would not be used in balancing their system.

ur AmericanAirFuter L E 0723 hh 9fIVAAF 3 215 Central Avenue

/ Ok P. O. Box 35690 PDC Louisville, KY 40232 ,h (502) 637-0631'  ; FAX (502) 637-0 520

4 9

. USNRC July 23, 1990 -l Page 2 of 3

4. Other information which Illinois Power used was given by AAF prior to the contract or purchase order. The pressure

' drop was included in a printout which AAF developed which ,

included only'the heat exchanger fins and tubes-which were  !

in the " air flow" area. It did not include any- return bends  !

or water supply headers. However, again, the correct re- '

l quired water-flow was given by AAF which would then give the l required heat transfer. In our opinion, we think it is not prudent for_the client to use proposal " pre-contract" infor- i mation for something as important as system balancing.- i

5. We've understood that pressure-drop alone is not used to-measure water flow.- the'ASHRAE (American Society of Heat i ng , Ventilating and Air Conditioning) handbook is used as a guide by the industry (Der.igners, Engineers, Manufac-turers, Users and Owners of Air Handling Units and Water Cooling Units):

Chapter 57 of the Handbook deals with balancing of systems.

It states "It is preferable to balance the water side separately by direct flow measurement."

i The Handbook goes on: "The water balance is undertaken using'all the pressure measuring methods available and verified by total heat transfer using air and water '

temperature readings. The pressure readings provide.the i necessary accuracy for a good balance only'if verified by a heat balance."

I had discussed this further with several Architect Engineers who have done considerable work on safety related equipment for nuclear power plants. They all stated they would not balance a system based only on a water side-pressure drop through the component.

6. The-specification requirements were very clear._ AAF was to-provide equipment which for given-incoming air and water  ;

flow and their temperatures, that_the outlet temperature and '

resultant heat transfer were as required. Specification pressure drops are typically given.as a maximum' allowed. It is up to the Owner to insure that the water flow specified is actually transmitted through the coil. No prudent engineer would validate performance without measuring actual water flow.

ur ArnericanAirFilter

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$ USNRC July 23, 1990 Page 3 of 3 i

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7. AAF has provided safety related coolers for a majority of the nuclear reactors 11n the U.S.. At no time has AAF equipment not met the specified conditions. In fact the containment coolers for Three Mile Island No. 2-(which sustained the accident") were designed and_ manufactured by AAF. These worked superbly and were instrumental in keeping j containment safe and cool ever since the accident, i B.. After NRC issuance of Information Notice No. 90-26 AAF received callsLfrom'several nuclear plants who have told us there is no problem with the coil information we've supplied nor with the coils' performance.

9. In view of the.above it is AAF's position that AAF's work and/or data will not result in repitition of this problem.

with other customers,- users or owners of nuclear power plants. l l

Sincerely, B n Fr nklin, Manager Environmental Safety Systems l

1 gAmericanAirFuter )

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