ML20134J320
| ML20134J320 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 09/06/1990 |
| From: | Claxton G NRC OFFICE OF INVESTIGATIONS (OI) |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20134F836 | List: |
| References | |
| FOIA-96-475 NUDOCS 9702120085 | |
| Download: ML20134J320 (6) | |
Text
REPORT OF INTERVIES WITH HAROLD B0YD 1
B0YD was interviewed on July 24, 1990, at his place of business by Nuclear Regulatory Commission Investigator Gary H. Claxton. B0YD is employed as the purchasing manager for Nutherm International, Incorporated, 501 S. lith Street, Mt. Vernon, Illinois 62864, telephone (618) 244-6000. Upon being advised of the interviewer's official identity and purpose of the interview, B0YD provided the following information.
B0YD said one of the Nutherm engineers, Bill ELLIS, received an order for 32 Potter and Brumfield (P&B) electric relays from the Tennessee Valley Authority to be used in the Watts Bar Nuclear Plant (WBNP), Spring City, Tennessee.
BOYD said upon receipt of an order, he is responsible for locating a distributor of the needed item and then issuing a purchase order. B0YD said in this instance, he called the manufacturer, P&B, and learned that it would be several months before the relays could be shipped. He said P&B referred him to one of their distributors, Spectronics, Incorporated, in Mobile, Alabama.
B0YD said he telephoned Spectronics and asked to speak with someone who could help him with some relays. He said he talked with Pete TOLBERT who immediately <
responded that he had the needed relays in stock. B0YD recalled telling TOLBERT that Nutherm dealt exclusively with clients in the nuclear industry for which Nutherm conducted tests on parts and fabricated panel boards. He said he asked TOLBERT if traceability could be provided by Spectronics and TOLBERT assured him that was no problem. B0YD further recalled that TOLBERT said Spectronics had previously done business with nuclear plants but that TOLBERT did not identify which ones. B0YD said there could have been no doubt in T0LBERT's mind that the relays being purchased by Nutherm were to be used in nuclear applications. B0YD said he asked TOLBERT if traceability would be any problem and TOLBERT responded that there was no problem.
B0YD said the relays were received by Nutherm and dedicated for nuclear ,
service before being shipped to WBNP. He said when Nutherm realized that Spectronics had not provided proper traceability as required in the sales contract, he contacted TOLBERT to resolve the issue. B0YD said TOLBERT then told him that he (TOLBERT) thought the documentation had been shipped with the relays. BOYD said T0LBERT later claimed that Spectronics had received several shipments of relays at the same time and he, therefore, could not precisely document where the relays came from that were shipped to Nutherm.
This Report of Interview was prepared on August 7,1990.
lO Y ~h$0h Gary H.~Claxtbn, Investightor Office of Investigations Field Office, Region 11 Reviewed by: % f /7 W-
/6 0 v Date: f f r, % emar n PAGE l 0F l PAGE(S) 9702120005 970204 '
PDR FOIA PDR q , fAMBERT96-475
g MDR-134-1 p' .
ELECIRICAL REQUIRDENTS i Coil voltage 115V 60 Hz Operate voltage 92V or less 60 Hz ,
Drop-out voltage '12V or more 60 Hz ;
Coil resistance 66 ohms 10% ;
4 Breakdown voltage 1230V RMS 60 Hz contacts to base, coil !
terminals to base.
- 1250V RMS 60 Hz between open contacts.
RESUIES .
a
- REIAY OPERATE IROIS-OUT CDIL BREAKDOWN
.l 1RlMBER VOLTAGE VOIIDGE RESISTANCE
' OHMS i *19 81.7 41.7 A mepted Accepted I 25 82.4 36.5 A m pted Accepted
- i 26 87 41 Accepted Accepted f 29 86 43.3 Accepted Accepted 30 82.9 38.4 Accepted Accepted i
- 'Ihis relay appeared to be a I&B original. Relay #30 buzzed at 92V through 115V.
]
Relays hand carried'by Gary Claxton to P&B on 7/25/90.
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4 EXHIBIT /7 i 2-90-0l' PAGE l 0F R PAGE(S)
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e, MDR-134-1 j
' VISUAL INSPDCTION REIAY #
19 25 26 29 30 Incorrect nameplate......................................... X X X X Incorrect color Glyptal seal................................ X X X X Rotor shaft cut off ard filed down. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X X X X Rotor slot not painted black................................ X X X ::
Motor nuts out of torque.................................... X X Incorrect erd p1ay. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X X X X NOIES:
- 1. Inspected to requirements of 6/21/90.
- 2. Relay #19 appeared to be a P&B original.
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EXHIBIT l7 PAGE A OF 1 PAGE(S)
b HDR-135-1
\
cmCrRrCAn muun e m S Coil voltage 28V DC Operate voltage 18V DC nnx, DIrp-out voltage 2.8V DC min.
Coil resis* m 76 ohms i10t Breakdown voltage 1300V RMS 60 Hz contacts to base, coil terminals to base.
1250V RMS 60 Hz between open contacts.
RESUIAS REIAY OPERATE IIGHIJr CDIL BREAKDOWN NUMBER VOLTAGE VOLT 1GE RESISTANCE OHMS 1 20.1 4.6 Accepted Accepted 2 21.2 4.5 Accepted Accepted Relays #1 & #2 were M a c e bled by P&B to check contact pressure requirement of 60 grams min. All contacts on relay #1 meet min.
requimments while two contacts on relay #2 were below requirements by 10 to 20 grams.
Relays were hard carried by Gary Claxton to P&B on 7/19/90.
R. Market 8/7/90 l
. EXHIBIT R3 2 ') ? "; i a PAGE_ / OF A PAGE(S) x
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l3 MDR-135-1 VISUAL INSPECr10N REIAY #
1 2 Nameplate number changed....................................... X X i' Coil leads painted............................................. X X No Glyptal seal................................................ X X !
Studs cut off.................................................. X X !
Rotor shaft cut off ard filed down. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X X Contact hole tapped oversize................................... X Top nuts out of torque......................................... X Rotor slot not painted black................................... X X '
Motor nuts out of torque. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X X Incorrect clearance between shaft and cover.................... X X Coil terminals have bad appearance............................. X X Incorrect end play......................................., ... X X 1 I
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NOI'ES: i J
l
- 1. Inspected to reqairements of 6/21/90.
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EXHIBn 2 3 PAGE 2 OF A PAGE(S)
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a e, a f, UNITED STATES fiUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 0FFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOP REGULATION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555 September 5, 1990 NRC INFORMATION NOTICE N0. 90-57: SUBSTANDARD, REFURBISHED P0TTER & BRUMFIELD RELAYS MISREPRESENTED AS NEW fddressees:
All holders of operating licenses or construction permits for nuclear power reactors.
Purpose:
This information notice is intended to alert addressees to the discovery of l rotary, non-latching type relays, originally manufactured by Potter & Brumfield I (P&B) of Princeton, Indiana, that have been apparently modified and/or refur-bished and that have been found to be materially and functionally substandard, such that they may not operate as required. The affected relays include, but ,
may not be limited to, P&B types MDR-138-8, MDR-173-1, MDR-134-1, and HDR-142-1.
It is expected that recipients will review this information for applicability to their facilities. However, suggestions contained in this information notice ,
do not constitute NRC requirements; therefore, no specific action or written '
response is required.
Description of Circumstances:
Carolina Power and Light Company's (CP&L's) Shearon Harris Nuclear Power Plant recently received a shipment of 22 P&B MDR-type relays. Although these were purchased from Spectronics, Inc., of Mobile, Alabama, an authorized distributor of P&B relays, the shipment was received directly from their supplier, Stokley Enterprises of Norf olk, Virginia. CP&L purchased the relays as commercial-grade items to be dedicated for use in the emergency diesel generator safety bus sequencer system at Shearon Harris. CP&L expected Spectronics to supply new relays from P&B, although the purchase order did not so state. CP&L was alerted to potential quality problems when the relays were received much sooner than the normal 10 to 12 weeks from P&B. Discrepancies were identified by CP&L during receiving inspection, during subsequent examination at Shearon Harris by NRC staff and a P&B technical representative, and later during inspection and testing at the P&B f actory, observed by NRC staff. The relays were improperly adjusted, lacked lubrication, and all failed one or more of the P&B tests.
They contained assortments of nonstandard and/or substandard parts and obsolete
. parts used by P&B or its predecessor, Magnetic Devices, Inc. The parts were assembled in incorrect, non-original configurations. These conditions, indica-tive of refurbishment, are listed in Attachment 1 to this information notice.
Discussion:
Through a continuing series of inspections at licensee and vendor facilities, the NRC staff has learned that Spectronics, Inc., has supplied apparently 40CO2900M q? '
-i.
&'f
c; 6 o IN 90-57 September 5, 1990 Page 2 cf 2 l, modified and/or ref urbished P&B MDR-type relays that are materially and func- l tionally substandard directly and/or indirectly to (1) at least three nuclear !
plants, including Shearon Harris, Watts Bar, and Sequoyah; (2) various vendors to nuclear plants; (3) at least one dedicator of commercial-grade components fnr nuclear plants, Nutherm International (Mount Vernon, Illinois); and (4) possibly one or more electrical equipment fabricators for installation in >
relay and switchgear panels Sr nuclear plants. These apparently modified -
and/or refurbished P&B-type relays were obtained directly or indirectly from i either Stokley Enterprises or The Martin Company of Chesapeake, Virginia. '
Stokley Enterprises and The Martin Company may have supplied such P&B-type relays, and various other types of modified and/or refurbished electrical :
components from other manufactur'rs, to distributors of electrical equipment ;
who deal directly or indirectly wi h neclear utilities.
This information notice requires no specific action or written response. If ;
you have any questions about the information in this notice, please contact one of the technical contacts listed below or the appropriate NRC regional office.
/
&. //
fsr.r Charles E.
,f s s'1, E.~7 2 y 1 rector Division of Operational Events Assessment Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Technical Contacts: K. R. Naidu, NRR (301)492-0980 S. D. Alexander, NRR (301)492-0995 Attachments:
- 1. Conditions Indicative of Substandard / Refurbished Relays '
- 2. List of Recently issued Information Notices i i
,6 m
k- Attachment 1
' IN.90-57 September 5,19%
Page 1 of 1 CONDITIONS INDICATIVE OF SUBSTANDARD / REFURBISHED RELAYS The following conditions, observed with P&B MDR-type relays supplied by Stokley Enterprises and/or The Martin Company through Spectronics, Inc., and/or Nutherm International, may be observed on similar relays supplied through various other distributors and dealers and are indicative of substandard refurbishment:
1.
Non-standard reddish-brown paint used to stake the nuts securing the motor and rotor assemblies (paint may be wet and adhering to the carton)
- 2. Sloppy coil lead solder joints at terminal strips with possible wicking
- 3. Painted relay base grommets (normally clear plastic) for coil leads
- 4. Terminal strips fastened with eyelets (discontinued in 1967) instead of
- rivets currently used by P&B l 5. Grey painted rivets fastening the terminal strip to the relay housing l where original P&B relays have unpainted rivets
- 6. Field termination screws (supplied with the relays) shipped in brown paper bags instead of heat-sealed, plastic bags
- 7. Cartons differing from original P&B cartons in color and labelling and relays packed with bubble wrap instead of wrapped in a plastic bag and packed in styrofoam as done by P&B
- 8. Apparently silk-screened nameplates, clearly different from original
- 9. Repainted inner bell-surface and relay base marks indicating prior use ;
- 10. Date codes and inspection and testing stamps missing or inconsistent with relay type (as determined by comparison with P&B production records),
indicating interchanged relay caps 1
- 11. Cap nuts (discontinued in 1977) on rotor and motor assembly bolts, instead j
, of currently used hex nuts, that are not torqued to P&B specifications '
- 12. Incorrect shaf t-relay cover clearance, incorrect rotor shaf t end play, and lack of bearing lubricant
- 13. Coil lead insulation color inconsistent with that of current P&B relays i
- 14. Orange paint (not used by P&B after 1972) on tops of rotor shafts j 15. Slots on tops of rotor shaf ts not painted black as currently required
- 16. Nonuniform numbers stamped on the contact decks, indicating decks made up from various relays
- 17. High potential test failure on coils and between contacts and contact ,
sections
- 18. Functional test failure - actuation above P&B-specified " maximum operate"
[ pick-up] voltage and/or drop-out below minimum drop-out voltage i
- 19. Widely varying coil winding resistance among relays, indicating manufacture during various periods of time
- 20. Incorrect coil - one 125-VDC relay found with 200-VDC coil. Coil had twice the specified winding resistance and relay actuated at high, out-of-specification operate voltage.
C Attacnaea m In 90 57 1"ptember . , 4990 Pete 1 of 1 L:sf or agCrirTLY !sguto hAC INFORMATION NCTICES f l Information Este or nettes no. sue;ect issuance Issued to '
90 54 Inadvertent $ntpment of A 9/a/90 All U.S. Nuclear tastoactive Source in A Regulatory Cosmission Contalner thought To le (NRC) licensees.
Empty 90 55 Eecent Operating Emperi. 8/31/90 All holders of OLs ence on Loss of Reacter or cps for nuclear 1 Coolant Inventory ahtle power reactors. l In A Shut 0 Dun Conditton 83.AA Potential :arage to 8/30/90 All holders of OLs Supp. 1 Recundant safety Ecutp. of cps for nuclear sent As A Assult of power reactors.
Backflow Through the tovipment and floor Drain System j
O 90 5A susesry of aeovaltf tcation 8/28/90 Progras Def tctancies All holders of CLs or cps for nuclear ([O
'D power reactors. 4 I'
i 89 18 Crtainal P*osecution of
.Q 8/24/90 All holders of OLs Supp. 1 pron coing Coauttted by or cps for nuclear Supp ters of Nuclear power reactors. P Proeucts or Services M l 10 53 Potenttal failures of 8/16/90 All holoers of OLs Aust11ery 5 team Piptag and or cps for nuclear ~*
the Possible Effects on tne power reactors.
Oper44 titty of Vital Equip.
ment ,
90 52 Rotentton of Broken 8/14/90 All holders of OLs ;
Charpy 5pecimens or cps for nuclear power reactors. ,
90 51 Fattures of voltage.Orooping 8,8/90 All toloers of OLs Resistors in tna Power or cps for nuclear !
Supply Circuitry of Elec'~ power reactors.
Governor Systers !
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- Operettag License CP
- Construction Pe ntt .! k UNITED STATES e, uco ..
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 'o8T*** * *e s s **'o >
WASHINGTON. D.C. 20555 * **
r penaniv a. oc 0FFICIAL SUSINESS PENALTY FOR PRIVATE USE. 8300 t
133323110867 US N90-0I 1 1C01 C Y1 FB11 S1 ATLANTA FIELD OFFICE DIRECroR 10I MARIETTA ST NW SUITE 2900 ATLANTA l GA 30323 .
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