ML20151Q728
| ML20151Q728 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 08/01/1988 |
| From: | Grimes B Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | Soldivar H VETERANS ADMIN. MEDICAL CENTER, WASHINGTON, DC |
| References | |
| IEIN-88-046, IEIN-88-46, NUDOCS 8808110269 | |
| Download: ML20151Q728 (3) | |
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'g UNITED STATES g 3 g NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
- , E W ASHING TON, D. C. 20555
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gI 1999 Mr. H. Robert Soldivar, Director Acquisition ano Material Management Veterans Administration 810 Vermont Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20420
Dear Mr. Soldivar:
SUBJECT:
POTENTIALLY DEFECTIVE REFURBISHED CIRCUIT BREAKERS The enclosed Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Information Notice (IN) 88-46 describes the circumstances under which defective refurbished electrical equip-ment may have been supplied to nuclear power plants. Our continuing investiga-tion of the five circuit breaker companies identified in the IN shows that the companies have shipped breakers to a number of government facilities and agencies.
Our review of a sample of invoices indicates that generally the breakers are sold to a oistributor, and it was only the occasional shipment direct to the end user that permitted us to identify the final government destination.
I have enclosed a copy of an invoice that identifies your agency as the customer. These documents represent our review of a selection of records spanning the last two or three years from all of the companies. As other records are reviewed, we will provide any additional information that comes to light.
However, since some of the companies have been in business for as many as 30 years, a full historical records search will not be possible.
The five California companies appear to sell surplus new as well as refurbished brea kers. However, their refurbished equipment may be shipped in containers resembling original manufacturer containers.
1 If there is any additional infonnation you require, please call me or Mr. Walter Haass at (301) 492-3219.
Sincerely, I
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% l rian K. Grimes, rector Division of Reactor Inspection and Safeguards Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation ,
Enclosures:
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- 1. NRC Bulletin (IN) 88-46 '
- 2. Invoices / Orders
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- 8 UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555 July 8, 1988 NRC INFORMATION NOTICE NO. 88-46: LICENSEE REPORT OF DEFECTIVE REFURBISHED CIRCUIT BREAVERS A_d,d res sees :
All holders of operating licenses or construction pemits for nuclear power reactors.
Purpose:
This infomation notice is being provided to alert addressees of licensee reported infomation that defective refurbished electrical equipment, such as circuit breakers (CBs), may have been supplied to nuclear power plants.
It is expected that recipients will review this infomation for applicability to their facilities and consider actions, as appropriate, to avoid similar problems.
However, suggestions contained in this information notice do not constitute is required. NRC requirements; therefore, no specific action or written response ,
Description of Circumstances:
Pacific Gas and Electric Compan purchase order for 30 new, non y (PG&E) has infomed NRC that it placed a safety-related, molded-case, KHL 36125-t.vpe CBs manufactured by the Square D Company (Square D) with a local electrical distributor. These CBs were intended for use in non-safety-related applica- -
tions at PG&E's Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant.
According to PG&E, the distributor in turn placed the order with a local sup-plier who bid the lowest price and promised the quickest delivery. The CBs were delivered directly to the Diablo Canyon plant by the supplier; the dis-tributor did not have an opportunity to inspect the CBs. Square D, aware of the purchase order, questioned its failure to receive an order for the unique vintage KHL 36125-type CBs.
With PG&E's permission, Square D inspected the l CBs anc detemined that PG&E had been given refurbished, rather than new, CBs.
Square D tested and performed detailed examinations of the CBs, and the results reported by PGIE follow.
A. Physitel Examination The yellow side labels used on the CBs were suspect in that the CB model numbers were typed on the labels whereas authentic labels are preprinted.
The CBs departed from normal appearance in other respects as well.
3807UB0006 [
,- IN 88-46 July 8, 1988 Page 2 of 3 The individual CB cases and each of the CB components appeared to be Square D products; however, the individual CBs incorporated components of different years of manufacture. Each CB bore evidence of having been opened and reassembled.
B. Electric Testing Square D subjected the CBs to five electrical tests. None of the C6s complied with Square D or Underwriters' Laboratory (UL) specifications for all of the tests, and several of the CBs were out of tolerance on each of the tests. At least four of the CBs failed to trip under circum-stances in which they are designed to trip.
Discussion:
In the past, there have been instances in which licensees purchased corvnercial-grade components, such as CRs, relays, trip units, and other electrical compo-nents, from electrical distributors and have received components that did not meet the original purchase order requirements. NRC has received additional information indicating that the problem of surplus or defective refurbished CBs may aise apply to CBs sold under other manufacturers' names (e.g., General Electric, Westinghouse, ITE, Cutler Hamer, and Sylvania).
The electrical suppliers involved in refurbishing and sales of circuit breakers, including the California Diablo Canyon, Square D circuit breakers, apparently include five corporations. These companies are (1) General Circuit Breaker &
Electric Supply, Inc., (2) HLC Electric Supply Co., Inc., (3) Pencon Inter-national, Inc., doing business as General Magnetics / Electric Wholesale, (4)
California Breakers, Inc., and (5) Anti-Thef t Systens, Inc., doing business as ATS Circuit Breakers and as AC Circuit Breaker-Electricai Supply. .
NRC nies. has an investigation and vendor inspection in progress at the above co pa-On the basis of the information developed to date, a preliminary list of customers of the five companies including a list of nuclear utilities (where svailable) is provided in Attachment 1.
Attachment 2 contains a list of original equipment nanufacturers whose nanes may have been used on surplus or refurbished equipment sold as new equipment.
The infortnation included in Attachments 1 and 2 is only prelininary and is provided to assist licensees in reviewing the potential of having procured suspect electrical equipment at their facilities.
Licensees are reminded of the requirements to ensure that procured items reet the relevant specifications and codes and are suitable for the intended appli-cation.
Licensees should consider, as a matter of prudence, the need to inquire of and to verify with their authorized distributors the sources of procured materials, equipment, and components. Licensees may meet these re by effectively implementing their quality assurance (QA) programs,quirements particularly in the areas of vendor evaluations, vendor surveillances, receipt inspection, bench tests, and post-installation tests.
l IN 88-46 July 8, 198P Page 3 of 3 NRC is gathering additional infomation to detemine what further actions are neces sa ry. The primary purpose of this information notice is to alert addressees of the situation as soon as possible. The NRC is considering issuing a bulletin l to followup on this infomation notice when the NRC has sufficient information to define requirements.
I No specific action or written response is required by this information notice.
If you have any questions about this matter, please contact one of the techni- '
cal contacts listed below or the Regional Administrator of the appropriate regional office.
Charfes Y f. 4 hDirector
. Rossi, Division of Operational Events Assessment Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Technical Contacts: K. R. Naidu, NRR (301) 492-0980 Jaime Guillen, NRR (301) 492-1170 Attachmer.ts:
- 1. Preliminary List of Customers (Intermediate Suppliers) of Suspect Electrical Equipment
- 2. Preliminary List of Original Equipment Manufacturers Phose Names May Have Been Used on Surplus or Pefurbished Equionent Sold as New Equipment
- 3. List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices .
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Attachment 1 IN 88-46 July 8, 19PP l Page 1 of ? '
PRELIMINARY LIST OF CUSTOMERS (INTERMEDIATE SUPPLIERS) 0F SUSPECT ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT Organization Location Nuclear Utility l fif available) ,
Westinghouse Electric St. Louis, M0; Boston, MA; 1 Supply Co. (WESCO) Boise, ID; Atlanta, GA; Charleston, SC; Panama, FL; Santa Clara, CA; Fresno, CA; Sacramento, CA; Shreveport, LA; Green Bay, WI; Elk Creek, IL; Albuquerque, NM; Mobile, AL; Ft. Worth, TX; Baton Rouge, Le Birmingham, AL; East Hartford, Lf; Kokomo, IN; Jackson, MS; Milwaukee, WI; Beaumont, TX; Nashville, TN; Skelton, WV; Albany, NY; Hartford, CT; Portland, ME; St. Paul, MN; Minneapolis, MN; other locations
, Power Conversion Huntington Beach, CA Rockwell International Los Angeles, CA Arkansas Power and Light Little Rock, AP AND Southern California San Clemente, CA; SONGS Edison other locations Phoenix Electric Phoenix, AZ Rensenhouse Electric Topeka, MS Breaker and Control Houston, TX
, General Electric Company Baltimore, MD; Houston, TX; Landover, MD; Chantilly, VA; Emeryville, CA; Elmhust, IL Southern Electric Alexandria, LA Supply Company Cleveland Electric Company
- Attachment 1
' IN 88-46 July 8, 1988 Page 2 of 2 PRELIMINARY LIST OF CUSTOMERS (INTERMEDIATE SUPPLIERS) 0F SUSPECT ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT Organization Location Nuclear Utilit (if available Stokley Interprises Norfolk, VA Taylor Electric Company Portland, OR Graybar Ventura, CA; Atlanta, GA Hughes Aircraf t El Segundo, CA Houston Electric Houston, TX Distribution Company
,ITE Electrical Products Atlanta, GA; knoxville, TN
, Knudson Corporation Los Angeles, CA Georgia Power Company Milledgeville, GA I
-- . _ - - . . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .. - ~ _ _ _ _ _ . , . - _ _ _ . - , . _ _ _ . - - . _ _ _ . - _..___ _.._. _
l Attachment 2 ,
IN 88-46 l July 8, 1988 l Page 1 of ?
1 PRELIMINARY LIST OF ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURERS WHOSE NAMES MAY HAVE BEEN USE0 Oh SURPLUS OR REFURBISHED EQUIPMENT SOLD AS NEW EQUIPMENT Manufacturer Model Number Eouipment Descriptior, Square D B19.5; B22 Heater for overload relay General Electric 12HGA11552 Auxiliary relay Exide Company NX400 Spectro Inc. V00014 Mercury lamps Bussman Company REN15 15-amp 250-V fuse Bussman Company N05-30 30-amp 600-V fuse (unknown) FSN 5925-628-0641 Circuit breaker Westinghcuse DB-50 Trip unit Westinghouse DB-25 400-amp circuit breaker Westinghouse HKB3150T Trip unit Westingtouse KB3250F Frame .
Westinghouse FB3020 Circuit breaker Westinghouse FB3070 Circuit breaker Westinghcuse FB3050 Circuit breaker Westinghouse EHP3040 Circuit breaker Westinghouse EHB3025 Circuit breaker Vestinghouse LBB3125 Circuit breaker Westinghouse HKA31250 Trip unit Westinghouse JA3200 Circuit breaker Westinghouse EHB2100 Circuit breaker Westinghouse CAH3200 Circuit breaker
i Attachment 2 '
- IN 88-46 July 8, 198P Page 2 of 2 PRELIMINARY LIST OF ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURERS WHOSE NAMES MAY HAVE BEEN USED ON SURPLUS OR REFURBISHED EQUIPMENT SOLD AS NEW EQUIPMENT Manufacturer Model Number Equipment Description Westinghouse 225N Navy trip units ITE EF-38100 100-amp circuit breaker General Electric AK-2-75-3 Circuit breaker General Electric AK-? Circuit breaker General Electric AK-1-50 Circuit breaker General Electric AK-1-75 Circuit breaker General Electric B; TD0; TFJ Circuit breakers General Electric TCVVFS Circuit breaker ITE ET; KA Circuit breakers Cutler Harrer --
Circuit breakers Zinsco/Sylvania --
Circuit breakers Bryant --
- Circuit breakers Murry --
Circuit breakers rederal Pacific Electric --
Circuit breakers Company
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Attachment 3
.. IN 88-46 July 8. 1988 Page 1 of 1 LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED NRC INFORMATION NOTICES Information Date of Notice No. Sub.iect Issuance issued to 88-45 Problems In Protective 7/7/88 Relay'and Circuit All holders of OLs or cps for nuclear Breaker Coordination power reactors.
88-44 Mechanical Binding of 6/24/88 All holders of OLs Spring Release Device or cps for nuclear in Westinghouse Type power reactors.05-416 Circuit Breakers 88-43 Solenoid Valve Problems 6/23/88 All holders of OLs or cps for nuclear power reactors.
88-42 Circuit Breaker Failures 6/?3/88 All holders of OLs Due to Loose Charging or cps for nuclear Spring Motor Founting Bolts power reactors.
88-41 Physical Protection 6/22/88 Ali holders of OLs Weaknesses identified or cps for nuclear Through Regulatory Ef- power reactors, fectiveness Reviews (RERs1 88-40 Examiners' Handbook for 6/22/88 Developing Operator All holders of OLs or cps for nuclear Licensing Examinations power reactors. .
88-39 LaSalle Unit 2 Loss of 6/15/PP Recirculation Pumps With All holders of OLs or cps for BWRs. '
Power Oscillation Event !
88-38 Failure of Undervoltage 6/15/88 All holders of OLs l Trip Attachment on General or cps for nuclear Electric Circuit Breakers power reactors.
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88-37 Flow Blockage of Cooling 6/14/88 All holders of OLs Water to Safety System or cps for nuclear Components power reactors. l 88-3C Possible Sudden Loss of RCS 6/8/88 All holders of OLs Inventory During Low Coolant or cps for Pk'Rs. !
Level Operation l l
OL = Operating License CP = Construction Permit l
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