ML20198E761
| ML20198E761 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 12/22/1998 |
| From: | NRC (Affiliation Not Assigned) |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20198E727 | List: |
| References | |
| REF-QA-99901336 99901336-98-01, 99901336-98-1, NUDOCS 9812240139 | |
| Download: ML20198E761 (9) | |
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U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF NUCLEAR RF. ACTOR REGULATION Report No.:
99901336/98-01 Organization:
Nuclear Research Corporation 125 Titus Avenue Warrington, Pennsylvania
Contact:
Steven O'Brien Quality Assurance Manager k
Nuclear Activity:
Provides radiation monitoring equipment to the nuclear industry.
Dates:
November 23-25,1998 Inspection Team:
Robe:t L. Pettis, Jr., HQMB/DRCH Kenneth Heck, HOMB/DRCH Paul Loeser, HICB/DRCH Approved by:
Robert A. Gramm, Chief Quality Assurance, and Safety Assessment Section Quality Assurance, Vendor Inspection, and Maintenance Branch Division of Reactor Controls and Human Factors Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation 1
Enclosure 9812240139 981222 PDR GA999 EMVNUCR 99910336 PDR
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1 INSPECTION
SUMMARY
From November 23-25,1998, representatives of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (USNRC) conducted a performance-based inspection of the activities at the Warrington, Pennsylvania facility of the Nuclear Research Corporation (NRC). In conducting this inspection, the team emphasized technically directed observations and evaluations of NRC activities related to the manufacture and testing of nuclear safety-related radiation monitors used throughout the nuclear industry. As the technical bases for the inspection, the team relied upon the following:
Part 21, " Notification of Failure to Comply or Existence of a Defect," as defined in Title 10 of the Code of FederalRegulations (10 CFR) 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix B, " Quality Assurance Criteria for Nuclear Power
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Plants and Fuel Reprocessing Plants" NRC Quality Assurance Manual, Revision 0, approved March 22,1989.
2 STATUS OF PREVIOUS INSPECTION FINDINGS This was the first USNRC inspection performed at NRC.
3 INSPECTION F,1NDINGS AND OTHER COMMENTS 3.1 Backaround General Design Criteria 4 of the Code of Federa/ Regulations, Title 10, Part 50, Appendix A requires that instrumentation and control (l&C) equipment be compatible with the environmental conditions it could experience. To meet this criterion, l&C systems in nuclear power plants must withstand electromagnetic interference (EMI) and radio frequency interference (RFI) and power surges from external and internal devices such as transformers, solenoid coils, and relays, electrical surges induced by lightning and power switching transients, and radio frequency disturbances. Safety-critical protection and control systems must be appropriately hardened (e.g., shielded) against such interference. Therefore the expected environment in which these items must operate must be properly characterized to allow the electromagnetic immunity of l&C equipment to be assessed against appropriate levels of interference.
The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) has characterized the emission levels and expected types of interference at nuclear power plants. Based on these surveys, EPRI has developed guidelines for equipment susceptibility tests (EPRI Topical Report TR-102323, September 1994), The recommended tests are included in standards defined by the military and commercial sectors and the levels are conservative based on the analyzed data. The USNRC staff has reviewed TR-10323 and has concluded that the EPRI guidelines provide an adequate method for qualifying digital I&C equipment for a nuclear plant's electromagnetic environment without the need for plant specific EMI surveys if the plant-specific electromagnetic environment is confirmed to be similar to 1
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that identified in TR-10323. Nuclear utilities, operating under USNRC licenses, are ultimately responsible for the safety of equipment installed in their nuclear power plants.
Licensees generally limit the vendors from they purchase to those complying with regulatory requirements and periodically audit these vendors to ensure continuing compliance.
NRC maintains a quality assurance program in compliance with 10CFR50, Appendix B, i
10CFR21 and American National Standards Institute (ANSI) N45.2. The adequacy and effectiveness of NRC's quality assurance program is audited through the Joint Audit Program facilitated by the Nuclear Procurement Issues Committee (NUPIC), whose membership represents operating nuclear power plants in the United States. NUPlC audits of NRC's quality program were conducted in 1995 and 1997; a follow-up audit is scheduled for December 1998.
Nuclear utilities generally specify, as part of the contract, the specific EMI criteria and standards to which purchased I&C equipment shall be qualified. NRC's customers may elect to contract electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) testing to an independent laboratory or through NRC, who subcontracts this testing to Radiation Sciences incorporated (RSI). NRC conducts full surveillance of all RSI testing and has performed audits of RSI's quality system in 1992 and 1998. NRC determined RSI's testing activities to be in conformance with applicable NRC test procedures and quality requirements.
The USNRC inspectors examined several of these procedures and verified that they specified EPRI TR-10323 guidelines and other applicable military and commercial standards for EMI testing. In addition, RSI test reports were reviewed with respect to implementation of NRC test requirements and the adequacy of the RSI test report with regard to documentation of test environment, test samples, test equipment, and the qualitative reporting of test results.
3.2 Review of EMC Testina of ADM-600 Series Radiation Monitorina Eauioment j
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Insoection Scoce The inspection team reviewed NRC's EMC testing program for the ADM-600 series radiation monitoring equipment, including identification of EMC testing requirements and evaluation of complementary test records for conformance to 10CFR50, Appendix B.
NRC's ADM series is a microprocessor-based multifunction ratemeter which can accept a variety of inputs from different style detectors for configuration as an area or process monitor. Using a digital readout as well as an analog display for trending purposes, the ADM series of radiation detectors are used with a variety of probes for monitoring alpha, beta, gamma, X-ray, ane: neutron radiation.
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Observations and Findinas b.1 EPRI Guidelines for EMI Testina The inspection team reviewed EPRI Topical Report TR-102323, " Guidelines for Electromagnetic Interference Testing in Power Plants," dated September 1994, which addresses the potential effects of electromagnetic emissions on digital equipment operation. Based on surveys at commercial nuclear plants, the report characterizes the I
environment in which digital equipment is expected to operate. The report recommends l
appropriate equipment testing standards such as Military Standard (MIL-STD) 641C and l
MIL-STD-641D for conduction and radiation susceptibility testing.
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In a safety evaluation of TR-102323, dated January 30,1996, the staff of the USNRC concluded that the EPRI guidelines provide an adequate method for qualifying digital instrumentation and control equipment for a plant's electromagnetic environment without the need for plant specific EMI surveys if the plant-specific electromagnetic environment is confirmed to be similar to that identified in TR-10323.
b.2 EMI Testino Performed by Radiation Sciences Incoroorated Nuclear utilities generally specify, as part of the contract, the specific EMI criteria for which instrumentation and control equipment shall be qualified. Nuclear licensees may elect to contract EMI/RFI testing to an independent laboratory or through NRC who l
subcontracts all EMI/RFI testing to RSI. Because RSIis not an 10 CFR 50 Appendix B I
l service provider and does not accept 10 CFR Part 21 when imposed by purchase order, NRC assumes the responsibility for ensuring that RSI testing conforms to regulatory requirements. A.1997 NUPIC audit of NRC identified that applicable RSI activities such l
as control of calibrated test equipment and qualification of test personnel had not been reviewed by NRC during its audits of RSI. As a result of corrective action to address the findings, NRC performed an audit of RSI on January 28,1998.
l The USNRC inspection team reviewed documentation provided by NRC that l
demonstrated the results of the RSI audit had been reviewed and accepted by NUPIC.
l All RSl testing contracted by NRC is performed in accordance with approved test j
procedures and all testing is witnessed by NRC technical personnel.
b.3 Review of EMI Testina for ADM-600 Series Diaital Ratemeters The team selected several radiation monitors supplied by NRC to nuclear power plants for the purpose of reviewing EMI test results. The test reports were reviewed with i
respect to implementation of EMI requirements and the adequacy of the test report in documenting general test requirements, test environment, test sample identification, test equipment calibration, and qualitative reporting of the test results.
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ADM-600/610 l
The ADM-600/610 series, developed in 1991, is an evolutionary design of ratemeters developed by NRC in 1975. In this design, processing can be distributed between two processors, one in the control room (rack installed ADM-600) and one in a location closer to the detector (ADM-610 in a NEMA-12 wall-mounted enclosure). In 1993, development began on the design of the ADM 606/616 series which has the same basic architecture as the ADM-600/610 but uses a 16-bit microprocessor.
The team reviewed EMI/RFI testing conducted by RSI in March 1992. The following tests were conducted in accordance with NRC Test Plan Document No. 200888.
EMI Transient Susceptibility Conducted EMI/RFI Susceptibility Radiated EMl/RFI Susceptibility Hand Held Radio EMI/RFl Susceptibility The referenced test methodology used was MIL-STD-461C and the specific test conditions were detailed in the report prepared by RSI. The team's review did not identify any concerns.
ADM-600A The team reviewed documentation of an ADM-600A digital ratemeter supplied to PECO Energy Company as part of a control room ventilation radiation monitoring system. EMI/EMC testing was conducted by NTS in 1995 under contract to PECO and portions of the test (IEC 801-4 and IEC 804-5) were subcontracted to Chromerics Test Services under the oversight of NTS test personnel. The following tests were conducted under NTS Test Plan No. 60541-95N:
Conducted Susceptibility, Method CS01,30 Hz to 50 KHz Conducted Susceptibility, Method CS02,50kHz to 400 MHZ Conducted Susceptibility, Method CS06, Spikes, Radiated Susceptibility, Method RS03, Electric Field,10 kHz to 1 GHz Electrical Fast Transients / Burst Immunity, IEC 801-4 Surge immunity, IEC 801-5 The NTS report references the test methodology recommended by EPRI TR-102323. The team's review did not identify any concerns.
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ADM-606 The inspection team reviewed the following documents associated with testing of the ADM-606 model digital ratemeter:
Electromagnetic Interference / Compatibility Test Report, RSI-4521E/A2, prepared for Nuclear Research Corporation for the ADM-606/616 series Digital Ratemeters, dated August 1996, submitted by RSI.
I Electromagnetic Compatibility Testing for ADM-606 (V2), performed at RSI, Test Report RSI-5031E, dated August 17,1998.
Nuclear Research Corporation Standard Test Plan for Measurement of Electromagnetic Interference for the Main Steam Line / N-16 Monitor System, i
NLM-100, TP-201462, dated March 27,1996.
Nuclear Research Corporation Pre / Post EMI Test Procedure for Main Steam Line / N-16 Monitor System, NLM-100, TP-201461, dated March 27,1996.
The documents identified two tests (1996 and 1998) performed for the ADM-606 digital ratemeter. The tests were a combination of the MIL-STD-462C susceptibility tests, as specified in EPRI Topical Report 102323, dated September 1994, IEC 801 series electrostatic discharge, fast transient and surge tests, and emissions tests as specified in Federal Communication Commission (FCC) Regulation 47 CFR Part 15.
The following is a listing of specific tests performed by NRC:
From EPRI 102323: CS01, Conducted Susceptibility, Power Lead,30Hz to 50 KHz; CS02, Conducted Susceptibility, Power Lead,50 KHz to 400 MHZ; CS06, Conducted Susceptibility, Power Lead, Spike; and RS03, Radiated Susceptibility, Electric Field,10kHz to 1 GHz.
From IEC 801: 801-2, Electrostatic Discharge, Contact & Air; 801-4, Electrical Fast Transient immunity; and 801-5, Surge immunity.
From FCC Method FCC/B, Conducted Emissions and Method FCC/C, Radiated Emissions.
Before and after each test, the functionality of the unit was verified using NRC Pre / Post Test Procedure TP-201461. Each test was performed using NRC Standard Test Plan TP-201462. During the 1996 tests, the ADM-606/616 units passed the EPRI and the IEC tests, but the FCC tests showed a level of electromagnetic radiation higher than allowed by FCC Part 15 requirements. The design of the digital ratemeters was modified by adding EMI gaskets to the cover plate, adding a grounded conductive film to the display window, and adding grounded shields to all unused connectors at the back of the unit.
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l In 1998, after these modifications were made, the units passed the tests. There was i
no attempt made to test or verify EPRI-102323 emissions level requirements as specified in Table B-1 and NRC did not claim to have met these emissions levels.
The team's review did not identify any concerns.
ADM 606M (V2)
EMI/EMC testing was conducted by RSI in August,1998, under contract to NRC.
The purpose of the tests were to qualify the ADM-606M (V2) to the requirements of the European Common Market based on similarities shared with the ADM-606M.
The RSI test report documented successful completion of the following tests:
i FCC Part 15 Class A Emission EN55011 Class A Emission EN61000-4-5 Surge (Criteria A 2 KV)
EN61000-4-6 Conducted Immunity (Criteria A 10V)
EN61000-4-11 Voltage Variations (Criteria A Parts 1 & 2; Criteria B Part 3)
Review of ADM-600/616 Diaital Ratemeters for Baltimore Gas & Electric In addition to the team's overall review of the ADM-600 series digital ratemeters, the i
team selected for review ADM-600/616 digital ratemeters which were supplied to Baltimore Gas & Electric (BG&E) as part of a safety-related main steam line radiation monitoring system, which includes functionality for monitoring N-16 effluent. The BG&E design specification reads as follows:
The system shall meet the surge withstand requirements and the high frequency conducted transient requirements defined in EPRI TR-10323; and a requirement that all power and signal input lines be tested.
The entire radiation monitoring system, except for any electromagnetic storage devices shall meet the radiated EMI susceptibility requirements defined in EPRI TR-10323. All electromagnetic storage devices shall meet IEC 801-3 with a 3V/m field from 27 to 1000 Hz.
An estimate of the emitted EMI shall be furnished from the supplier for the new l
system. This information shall be based on previously constructed system, with similar configuration. In addition, the supplier shall certify that the emitted EMI meets the requirements of FCC Regulations 47 CFR Part 15 for Class 8 devices.
A critical onsite design review of the radiation monitoring systems purchased under this contract was conducted by BG&E and Data Refining Technologies, incorporated in July 1996. The report which documented this review concluded that the l
application and the process under which the radiation monitoring system was i
developed satisfy the criteria set forth in IEEE/ANS 7.4.3.2-1993, " Standard Criteria i
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for Digital Computers in Safety Systems of Nuclear Power Generating Stations."
NRC Test Plan No. TP-201462, which implements the BG&E test requirements, states "The following tests are in accordance with MIL-STD 461C, dated August 1986, and MIL-STD 462, dated July 1967, as described in EPRI TR-102323, Appendix B, Paragraph 3.0:
CS01, Conducted Susceptibility,30 Hz - 50kHz.
CS02, Conducted Susceptibility, 50 KHz - 400MHz.
CS06, Conducted Susceptibility, Power Leads, Spikes.
RS03, Radiated Susceptibility,10 KHz - 1GHz.
IEC Publication 801-4, Electrical Fast Transient / Burst Immunity (1988).
IEC Publication 801-5, Surge immunity (1990).
IEC Publication 801-2 for tabletop equipment using the following test levels:
Air Discharge - 8 KV Contact Discharge - 4 KV FCC Regulation 47 Part 15 for Class B devices.
Radiation Emissions for Class B equipment EMI/EMC testing was conducted by RSI in August,1996 in accordance with the above test plan. In addition to these tests, BG&E witnessed and accepted comprehensive EMI/RFI tests on the skid-mounted units as part of factory acceptance testing.
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Conclusions Based on review of documentation related to the tests described above, the inspection team concluded that the RSI tests implement the specifications of the NRC test plans; the test methodology, equipment, and results are well documented, and the test reports are signed by the appropriate level of RSI management. The inspection team also concluded that the ADM-606/616 series digital ratemeters meet the applicable susceptibility requirements as specified in EPRI-102323 and emissions requirements as specified in FCC Part 15 Methods B and C.
4 ENTRANCE AND EXIT MEETINGS During the entrance meeting on November 23,1998, the USNRC team met with members of NRC management and staff and discussed the scope of the inspection. The team also reviewed its responsibilities for handling proprietary information as well as those of NRC. In addition, the team established contact persons within the management and staff of the applicable NRC organizations. The team discussed the results of the inspection with NRC management and staff on November 25,1998.
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PARTIAL LIST OF PERSONS CONTACTED E Pollock President, NRC S. Panday, Ph.D.
V.P. Engineering
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J. Tomei Engineering
' J. Gerfin Engineering S. O'Brien QA Manager R. Letizia Engineering i
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