ML20117C470
| ML20117C470 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | 05000000, Oyster Creek |
| Issue date: | 01/10/1984 |
| From: | Starostecki R NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I) |
| To: | Jordan E NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20114F930 | List:
|
| References | |
| FOIA-84-616 NUDOCS 8505090433 | |
| Download: ML20117C470 (2) | |
Text
l UNITED STATES
.p t tig'o NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMisslON
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JAN 101984 MEMORANDUM FOR:
E. L. Jordan, Director, Division of Engineering and Quality Assurance,HQ FROM:
R. W. Starostecki, Director Division of Project and Resident Programs, Region I
SUBJECT:
POTENTIALLY GENERIC ISSUE CONCERNING LIMITORQUE VALVE OPERATOR TORQUE SETTINGS A recent LER from Oyster Creek relative to Limitorque Valve operator torque settings describes a problem that apparently started with the vendor testing program for the operators during pre-operational testing of the facility and continued during sub-sequent surveillance / maintenance testing by plant personnel. Consequently, the pro-blem appears to be a generic issue and is fomarded for your infomation and consi-deration.
The LER and potentially generic issue data sheet are enclosed. We previously had included this item in a daily report; however, this notification is being provided to IE with a copy to AEOD.
I strongly urge IE and AEOD to provide updated guidance on the manner in which generic issues should be handled by the regional offices since TI 2500/3 expired in 1981.
1 R. W. Starostecki, Director Division of Project and Resident Programs
Enclosures:
As Stated cc w/encis:
DPRP Directors, Region II, III, IV, V C. Heltemes, AE0D bec w/encls:
C. Cowgill E. Conner W.Baunack[
f g 50 g 3 841002 DARFIEL84-616 PDR
Appendix A TI 2500/3 4/1/80 I
POTENTIALLY GENERIC ISSUE DATA SHEET LIMITORQUE VALVE OPERATORS - TORQUE SETTINGS Facility Oyster Creek Docket No.
50-219 Date of Event Inspection (or other Report) LER 50-219/83-24/01P 1.
Brief Description of Issue (Not required if included in supporting data)
Torque switch settings for limitorque motor operated valves have been reset lower than manufacturer's settings during preoperational testing. The lower settings on these valves may prevent the valves from fully stroking against design differ-ential prest.ures under accident conditions.
(See also attached LER 219/83-24/01P).
2.
How Found (If appropriate)
Licensee identified during review of maintenance records.
3.
Why Considered Potentially Generic (i.e. - reference cpplicable criteria or give reason)
Other facilities may have reset limitorque motor operator torque switches to set-tings lower than the manufacturer's recomendations. This could lead to valves not operating as designed under accident conditions.
4.
I C. Cowgill E. L. Conner /R. R. Keimig Region Originator Section Chief / Branch Chief 5.
Other Region Reporting that the Problem has also been identified by them Region
, Chief Reporting
, Docket No.
6.
Evaluation by IE:HQ Bulletin /
/ Circular /
/
Infomation Notice /
/
Other
/
/
No further action required
/
/
f i
Regional Administrator to:
U.S. Maclear hogulatory 0:mmiasion Region I 631 Park Avenue King of Prussia, PA 19406 WU mclear FRCE:
Oyster Creek M clear Generating Station
~i Docket No. 50-219 Forked River,10 08731 i
Licensee Event Report 50-219/83-24/01P SU M sCT:
'Ihe following is a preliminary report sutaitted in conpliance with the Technical i
Specifications, paragraph 6.9.2.a.9.
December 20, 1983 REPCRT DATE:
Notification of the event described herein was made to Mr. Glenn Meyer of the NRC on 20, 1983 at approximately 1200 hours0.0139 days <br />0.333 hours <br />0.00198 weeks <br />4.566e-4 months <br /> December try Peter B. Fiedler, Vice President and Director.
Preliminary Approval:
Peter 8. Fiedler Vice President and Director Oyster Creek PSF / dam Encs.
Director (2) oc: Office of Management Information and s
Program control U.S. Nuclear Regulatory commiasion Washington, DC 20555 IEtC Resident Inspector (1)
Oyster Creek mclear Generating station Forked River, NJ 08731
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OYS E R CREEK NUCLEAR GEN D ATING BIATION l
Porked River, New Jersey 08731 Licensee Event Report Raport occurrence No. 50-219/83-24/0lP l
I Report Date nonsmeer 21, 1983 l
Occurrence Date Decenter 20, 1983 I
Identification of occurrence After attending the IMPO sponsored ' Valve and Valve Motor Operator Norkshop" conducted from November 16 through 18, 1983 at Atlanta, Georgia, and reviewing the INFO Significant Operating Event Report No. 83-09 titled, ' valve j
Inoperability caused by Motor Operator Failures *, and 1890 report titled
'Assesament of Motor Operated valve Failures", a review of maintenance records l
disclosed that the torque switch setpoints of many limitorque motor operated i
1 valves were set below the original manufacturer's data listed on the bill of material.
Although data are still being evaluated, w believe this event is considered to be a reportable occurrence as defined in the Technical specifications, paragraph 6.9.2.a.9.
Conditions Prior to Occurrence
'the reactor was shutdown with the mode switch in refuel position. All fuel has been removed from the vessel during the present plant refueling outage.
Description of occurrence On Deossber 20, 1983, during a review of the torque switch setpoints of the
limitorque motor operated valves at Oyster Creek, it was discovered that the' setpoints on many motor operated valves had been set lower than the manufacturer's data. Further investigation of isolation valves revealed that the torque switch setpoints set by General Electric during the pre-operational testing were found to be lower than the manufacturer's data.
In some cases, these setpoints were later changed to va14es lower than pre-operational testing in the course of plant operation as determined through maintenance and surveillance testing.
A procedure was issued in 1978 to control and record inspection and maintenance of motor operated valves which included checking the torque switch settings.
((.icenseeEventReport Paga 2 mapottablo occurrence No. 50-219/83-24/01P 4
Asparent Cause of Occurrence the apparent cause of occurrence is attributed to lack of sufficient knowledge concerning setpoint design basis and how the setpoints affect safety system i
functioning.
It should be pointed out that during our review we discovered that no formal setpoint specification or documentation identifying the importance of torque switch settings currently exists.
Analysis of Occurrence Y
Pre-operational testing and ety+$ surveillance / maintenance testing was apparently conducted under zero diffential pressure conditions. She torque switch settings were reduced to prevent applying a force that would cause the valve to > in the closed position and possibly pamage the motor operator or valve during periodic surveillance. Becausedifgentialpressureisa contributor in determining the amount of force necessary for full closure, the potential exists that some valves may not fully close or open under design basis accident conditions.
The actual design basis will vary with each valve operator in different systems and these bases are presently under investigation with General Electric 2., the valve manufacturers, and valve operator manufacturer. At this time, due to various unspecified conservatism in chosen setpoints added by either Limitorque or each valve manufacturer, we have not been able to determine that any valve would not have operated during accident conditions with setpoints lower than originally identified, merective Action Immediate corrective action was initiated to investigate the design basis of each valve operator in different systems. 5his investigation is continuing with General Electric Co., the valve manufacturers, and the valve operator manufacturer. Specific corrective action for each valve determined to be affected will be initiated upon coupletion of this investigation.
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