ML20197D216
| ML20197D216 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Seabrook  |
| Issue date: | 03/11/1987 |
| From: | Nerses V Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | Harrison R PUBLIC SERVICE CO. OF NEW HAMPSHIRE |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20197D214 | List: |
| References | |
| REF-PT21-87 NUDOCS 8703190030 | |
| Download: ML20197D216 (3) | |
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION c
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,I wAsMINGTON. D. C. 20666 s,
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ggg 111987 Docket Nos. 50-443 and 50-444
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l Mr. Robert J. Harrison President & Chief Executive Officer Public Service Company of New Hampshire Post Office Box 330 Manchester, New Hampshire 03105
- ear Mr. Harrison:
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SUBJECT:
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION REGARDING PROBLEM WITH THE IN-CONTAINMENT RADIATION DETECTOR SIGNAL COAXIAL CABLE t
The enclosed written vendor report as reovired by 10 CFR 21.21 identifies a problem with the in-containment radiation detector signal coaxial cable.
Apparently, these cables are used in a number of nuclear plants including Seabrook. You are requested to inform us of what corrective action, if any, is needed to resolve this problem.
Sincerely, l
Victor Nerses, Acting Director PWR Pro,iect Directorate #5 Division of PWR Licensing-A J
Enclosure:
l As stated cc: See next page
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Mr. Mobert J. Harrison Public Service Company of New Hampshire Seabrook Nuclear Power Station cc:
Thomas Dignan, Esq.
E. Tupper Kinder Esq.
John A. Ritscher, Esq.
G. Dana Bisbee, Esq.
Ropes and Gray Assistant Attorney General 225 Franklin Street Office of Attorney General Boston, Massachusetts 02110 208 State Hosue Annex Concord, New Hampshire 03301 Mr. Bruce B. Beckley, Project Manager Public Service Company of New Hampshire Resident inspector Post Office Fox 330 Seebrook Nuclear Power Station Manchester, New Hampshire 03105 c/o US Nuclear Regulatory Comission.
Post Office Box 700 Dr. Mauray Tye, President Seabrook, New Hampshire 03874 jSun Valley Association 209 Sumer Street Mr. John DeVincentis, Director Haverhill, Massachusetts 01839 Engineering and Licensing Yankee Atomic Electric Company Robert A. Backus Eso.
1671 Worchester Road O'Neil, Backus and Spielman Framingham, Massachusetts 01701 116 Lowell Street Manchester, New Hampshire 03105 Mr. A. M. Ebner, Pro.iect Manager United Engineers & Constructors William S. Jordan, III 30 South 17th Street Diane Curran Post Office Box 8223
-Hannon, Weiss & Jordan Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19101 20001 S Street, NW Suite 430 l
Washington, D.C.
20009 I
hr. Philip Ahrens, Esq.
Assistant Attorney General State House, Station #6 l
Augusta, Maine 04333 Carol S. Sneider. Esq.
Office of the Assistant Attorney General Environmental Protection Division Mr. Warren Hall One Ashburton Place Public Service Company of Boston, Massachusetts 02108 New Hampshire Post Office Box 330 D. Pierre G. Cameron, Jr., Esq.
Seabronk, New Hampshire 03874 General Counsel Public Service Company of New Hampuire Seacoast Anti-Pollution League Post Office Box 330 Ms. Jane Doughty Manchester, New Hampshire 03105 5 Market Street Portsmouth, New Hampshire 03801 Regional Administrator, Reginn I U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Comission Mr. Diana P. Randall 631 Park Avenue 70 Collins Street King of Prussia, Pennsylvania 19406 Seabrook, New Hampshire 03874 Richard Hampe Esq.
New Hampshire Civil Defense Agency 107 Pleasant Street Concord, New Hampshire 03301 R
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i nx February 23,.1987 Director, Inspection and Enforcement U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission j
Washington, D.C. 20555 I
Gentlemen:
This written report is provided in compliance with Part 21 and is a followup to a telephone call made to Region V on February 18, 1987.
The information below is provided as requested by 10CFR21.21.
(i)
Person informing the commissions Richard A. Dean Senior Vice President GA Technologies Inc.
P. O. Box 85608 San Diego, CA 92138-5608 (ii)
Description of the defect:
Sorrento Electronics manufactures a digital and analog version of Reg. Guide 1.97 post-LOCA High Range Radiation Monitor (HRRM).
Both versions use an RD-23 ion chamber detector as the in-containment radiation detector.
The detector is interconnected to an RM-80 Microprocessor (Digital) or an RP-2C Readout Module (Analog) with two coaxial cablea.
The defective part of this system is the in-containment portion of the ion chamber's signal coaxial cable.
The cable is manufactured by the Rockbestos Co.
(iii) Identification of the firm:
Sorrento Electronics a Subsidiary of GA Technologies Inc.
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(iv)
The nature of the defect:
Several LOCA and other high temperature tests conducted on Rockbestos coaxial cable indicate that the insulation resistance at high temperature is not high enough for the ion chamber and its associated electronics to operate properly.
When the insulation resistance was measured at low voltage (the test that most closely approximate's SE's actual installation condition), the measured insulation resistance was 2.66 E 06 chas per 1000 feet of cable.
This measurement was made at 344 degrees F.
In order for the SE HRAM's to operate within the factor of two accuracy required by Reg. Guide 1.97, the minimum acceptable cable _ insulation resistance is 5.0 E 08 ohms.
The cable's leakage resistance in conjunction with
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the input logarithmic amplifier's offset voltage result in one of two conditions at the amplifier output.
1.
The amplifier output signal remaine positive, but the error current produced by the amplifier's offset voltage divided by the cable's insulation l
resistance exceeds the factor of two accuracy limit.
2.
The low cable insulation resistance drives the amplifier output negative which is an abnormal condition for the circuit.
Preliminary tests indicate that condition number two is the predominant failure mode.
(v)
The date on which information was obtained:
February 18, 1987 (vi)
The number and location of the components:
(See Attachment 1.)
(vii) corrective action:
At this time, a corrective action has not been identified.
The most probable corrective action will involve either a redesign of the electronics to measure the cable's insulation resistance and correct for its offacts or to replace the cable with a different type.
(viii) Advice to Purchasers:
None until corrective action identified.
Purchasers are being informed as to problem.
sorrento Electronics will work with individual purchasers to evaluate their specific problem.
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,'s. 3-If you have any questions concerning this report, call me at (619) 455-2120.
Address technical questions to:
Dennis Nau at (619) 457-8905; or Leonard Karpenko at (619) 457-8807 Yours truly, h
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Richard A. Dean senior Vice President Reactor Programs I
cc:
C. R. Fisher D. C. Nau Regional Director U.s. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 1450 Maria Lane Walnut Creek, CA 94596 i
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Att5chment 1 i
(vi)
The number and location of the components:
Site Digital Analog Arkansas P&L/ Nuclear I X
X Beaver Valley X
Byron X
Braidwood X
s Comanche Peak X
Duke Power /McGuire X
X Indian Point III X
X Limerick X
Maanshan X
EGGG Idaho / FAST X
Millstone X
X f
River Bend X
songs I X
Songs 2 & 3 X
Seabrook X
Shearon Harris X
SMUD/ Rancho Seco X
St. Lucie X
X Wolf Creek X
South Texas X
TVA/Bellefonte X
Waterford X
Callaway X
Hope Creek X
Applied Phys. Tech.
X Beznau X
BG&E/ Cal. Cliffs X
Dresden X
Quad Cities X
Zion X
LaSalle X
Conn. Yankee X
James Fitzpatrick X
Northern States /Prarie Island X
Monticello X
Pt. Seach X
l Maine Yankee X
l Peach Bottom X
Dairyland Power /Lacross X
Wisconsin /Kewaunee X
Niagara Mohawk X
Catawba X
Toledo Edison / Davis Bessie X
Fermi II
,X Florida Power Corp./ Crystal River X
Susquehanna X
Aptec/ Ontario Hydro X
Turkey Point X
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