ML20093D143
| ML20093D143 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Vermont Yankee File:NorthStar Vermont Yankee icon.png |
| Issue date: | 06/29/1984 |
| From: | Murphy W VERMONT YANKEE NUCLEAR POWER CORP. |
| To: | Murley T NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I) |
| References | |
| REF-PT21-84-327-000 FVY-84-70, PT21-84-327, PT21-84-327-000, NUDOCS 8407160147 | |
| Download: ML20093D143 (4) | |
Text
p,
MERMONT YANKEE NUCLEAR POWER CORPORATION FVY 84-70 RD 5. Box 169, Ferry Road, Brattleboro, VT 05301
,gg g
ENGINEERING OFFICE 1671 WORCESTER ROAD FRAMINGHAM, M ASSACHUSETTS 01701 TELEPHONE 617-872-8 '30 June 29, 1984 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Office of Inspection-8 Enforcement Region I 631 Park Avenue King of Prussia, PA 19406 Attention:
Dr. Thomas E. Murley Regional Administrator
Reference:
a)
License No. DPR-28 (Docket No. 50-271)
Dear Sir:
Subject:
Notification of the Potential Existence of a Defect in Accordance with 10CFR21.21 In accordance with the provisions of 10CFR Part 21, Section 21, we are hereby notifying you that we have obtained information reasonably indicating that a defect may exist with respect to Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) bat-teries supplied to us by Exide Corporation.
Enclosure I to this letter documents the details of this notification and our plans for corrective actions.
Should you have any questions regarding this matter, please contact us.
Very truly yours, VERMONT YANKEE NUCLEAR POWER CORPORATION Mm-[ $
Warren P. / Murphy Vice President and Manager of Operations WPM /dm
, \\ "i 8407160147 840629 1
g/
i
<i PDR ADOCK 05000271 O
PDR I \\
Y t
' ' lj.S. Nuclcar R:gulatory Canmission Jun2 29, 1984 Page 2 VEllMONT YANKEE NUCl,EAll POWElt Colt POltATION cc:
(3) USNRC Director, Office of Instection & Enforcement Washington, D.C.
20555 (3) USNRC Director, Office of Management Information and Program Control Washington, D.C.
20555 (3) Chairman, Vermont Yankee Nuclear Safety Audit and Review Committee (1)- Manager, Operational Quality Assurance Department Yankee Atomic Electric Company (1)
Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO)
m ENCLOSURE I EXIDE CORPORATION E SIZE UPS BATTERY PART 21 REPORT COMPANY INFORMING Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corporation THE COMMISSION RD #5, Box 169 Ferry Road Brattleboro, Vermont 05301 FACILITY EXPERIENCING Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station PROBLEM PO Box 157 Governor Hunt Road Vernon, Vermont 05354 FIRM SUPPLYING Exide Corporation COMPONENT 101 Gilbralter Road Horsham, Pennsylvania 19044 NATURE OF DEFECT Exide Corporation representatives have performed a detailed field inspection of the Vermont Yankee UPS batteries on March 28, 1984. The results of the inspection indicate that cracked boss seals found on many cells are a result of " nodular corrosion" of the lead posts. This corrosion can cause additional stress on the plastic components of the cover and may expose the copper insert inside the battery posts to the acid, resulting in copper contamination of the negative plates. This contamination indicates that the current carrying capability of the battery posts is degrading, and that the cells are approaching an advanced end-of-life state.
DATE ON WHICH The problem was initially discovered during the DEFECT WAS March 28 inspection. By letter dated May 14, DETECTED 1984, Exide provided additional details and recom-mendations to Vermont Yankee.
Exide determined that the present batteries could still perform their safety function, but Exide strongly recom-mended replacement of the batteries during the 1984 refueling outage.
In subsequent conver-sations with Exide, the manufacturer stated that the batteries were deteriorating and that they could not guarantee that the batteries could per-form the safety function up to the 1985 outage.
ENCLOSURE I Page 2 NUMBER OF COMPONENTS Vermont Yankee has two redundant UPS batteries, AT THE FACILITY each consisting of 192 "E" size cells, Type EC11 purchased around 1979.
CORRECTIVE ACTION Vermont Yankee has agreed to purchase two 192 cell TAKEN replacement batteries utilizing a new seal design.
These batteries are being replaced during the current 1984 refueling outage.
ADVICE RELATED TO We recommended that any nuclear installation which currently utilized an "E" size Exide battery inspect the seal area for the type of sealing method and any cracking or negative plate discol-oration.
8