ML20207E680
| ML20207E680 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 12/30/1986 |
| From: | Baer R NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE) |
| To: | Sanders G GENERAL ELECTRIC CO. |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8701020255 | |
| Download: ML20207E680 (7) | |
Text
.
DEC 3 0 1986
' Mr. George W. Sanders, Jr.
GE Nuclear Plant Services-1000 First Avenue King of Prussia, Pennsylvania 19406 I
Dear Mr. Sanders:
SUBJECT:
DRAFT INFORMATION NOTICE ON GE AKF BREAKERS The Nuclear Regulatory Comission is in the process of preparing an information notice entitled, " Potential Problems with Metal Clad Circuit Breakers, General Electric Type AKF-2-25."
-l A copy of the latest draft of this information notice is enclosed for your review and coment.
Comments received by January 20, 1987, particularly those dealing with the facts presented in the information notice, will be considered in the final revision.
Sincerely, d
Original Signed by Robert L Baer Robert L. Baer, Chief Engineering and Generic Communication Branch 4.--
Division of Emergency Preparedness and-Engineering Response Office of Inspection and Enforcement
Enclosure:
As stated 4
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6835 IN 86-XX UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT WASHINGTON, D.C.
20555 December XX, 1986 IE INFORMATION NOTICE 86-XX:
POTENTIAL PROBLEMS WITH METAL CLAD CIRCUIT BREAKERS, GENERAL ELECTRIC TYPE AKF-2-25 Addressees:
All boiling water reactor facilities holding an operating license or a construction permit.
Purpose:
This notice is to alert recipients of potential problems with the General Electric Company (GE) AKF-2-25 type circuit breakers failing to fully open on demand.
It is expected that recipients will review the information for applicability to their facilities and consider actions, if appropriate, to preclude similar problems. However, suggestions contained in this information notice do not constitute NRC requirements; therefore, no specific action or written response is required.
Description of Circumstances:
'I.
Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station On June 29, 1986, the "A" recirculation pump (RP) motor / generator (MG) set field breaker (AKF-2-25) failed to trip while the MG was being removed from service. Licensee investigation revealed that the breaker was mechanically bound and could not be actuated by rotating the trip shaft.
Because the braaker had not fully opened, the breaker auxiliary switch "a" contact, which is in serits with the shunt trip coil (STC), did not open the circuit to the STC, which then burned out.
Improper lubrication and misadjustment appeared to be the cause of binding.
On March 15, 1985, the turbine generator field breaker (AKF-2-25) failed to open when it received a trip signal from its manual control switch.
Examination determined that there was insufficient lubrication on the link and cam of the centerpole of the breaker and that the eccentric cam bushing was improperly installed.
In 86-XX December XX, 1986 Page 2 of 4 On February 9, 1985, the "A" RP MG-set field breaker (AKF-2-25) failed to open on demand after the "A" RP motor tripped. The control /ATWS STC was observed to be burned and open circuited.
Additionally, the auxiliary switch that was connected to the breaker trip shaft was found to have loose mounting bolts and to be damaged.
The licensee determined that mechanical binding and/or auxiliary switch problems caused the failure of the breaker to trip on demand.
On April 3,1983, the "B" RP MG-set field breaker (AKF-2-25) failed to open; consequently, the STC burned out when the "B" RP was secured by the control room operators.
The licensee maintenance personnel found mechanical binding of the breaker unit, which required partial disassembly to free the breaker. The licensee determined that the shunt trip device rotated the trip shaf t, thereby starting the trip action; however, the cam arrangement failed to complete its intended action and the trip action was interrupted.
2.
Dresden Unit 3 On September 2,1983, personnel could not open the "B" RP MG-set field breaker (AKF-2-25) and found the STC burned out.
The STC was replaced and the breaker was cleaned and lubricated.
On March 1,1982, while performing the ATWS surveillance, which requires tripping and reclosing the field breaker, the plant personnel found the field breaker inoperable.
Plant personnel investigated and found the operator ann disconnected from the auxiliary contacts. The ann was reconnected and the surveillance was performed.
Discussion:
On February 21, 1980, the NRC issued an order requiring the installation of an ATWS RP trip function. Some licensees installed a second STC on the two RP MG-set field breakers and the necessary instrumentation / logic to cause a breaker trip when certain parameters are sensed.
Pilgrim and Dresden have this arrangement. Other licensees installed the ATWS trip coils in the 4.16 kV/6.9 kV circuit breakers that supply power to the two MG-sets.
The AKF-2-25 circuit breaker is a field switch without overcurrent protection.
It is a three-pole breaker with the center pole modified specifically to serve as a de switch. The AKF-2-25 field breaker is equipped with two STCs, one of which is dedicated to respond to an ATWS demand.
Each STC is energized through a nonnally open "A" contact that is controlled by the breaker's moving contacts.
The "A" contact is an auxiliary switch that opens when the breaker is fully open and closes when the breaker is closed (ON position). The "A" contact is
IN 86-D December XX, 1986 Page 3 of 4 in series with the STC.
Thus, when the breaker is closed, the "A" contact is closed and the STC is ready to trip on receipt of a signal from the control room or the ATWS logic.
The STC is not rated for continuous duty and will overheat and fail if subjected to full voltage for more than a few seconds.
If a breaker does not fully open when demanded by an STC, the "A" contact will not open and the STC will overheat and fail. Therefore, if a subsequent ATWS trip signal is initiated, the safety function will not be performed.
An STC failure can only be detected by testing; remote indication is not provided.
The most recent breaker failure at Pilgrim has been attributed to improper maintenance perfonned by GE Philadelphia service technicians, who at the time were unaware of special maintenance practices developed by the GE Atlanta Service Shop. The GE Atlanta facility disassembled the failed breaker and discovered that it was grossly out of adjustment and that improper lubricants apparently had been used. GE has indicated they will issue a service letter to address the special maintenance practices developed at Atlanta.
The ATWS trip function is required by 10 CFR 50.62(c)(5) and specific quality assurance guidance has been provided for non-safety-related ATWS equipment (NRC Generic Letter 85-06 dated April 16,1985).
The GE AKF type circuit breakers have been shown to be susceptible to failure as a result of binding within the breaker cam mechanism, unless proper maintenance procedures are developed and followed by individuals trained specifically to service the AKF breaker.
GE has suggested that the following maintenance information be incorporated into licensee programs for GE AKF-type circuit breakers:
(1) Maintenance / inspection intervals of every 12 months or at each refueling outage. A complete breaker overhaul every 5 years is recomended to complement the annual cyclical maintenance.
(2) Only proper lubricaats should be used on these circuit breakers.
Molykote 6
BR2 plus grease or equivalent for the slot in the circuit breaker center-pole link and cam, and GE Specification D50H038 (Mobil 28) for all other applications. The grease of GE Specifications D50H15 and D50H47 is no longer reconcended for this breaker.
l i
(3) Because of the complexity and difficulty in properly making crucial adjustments unique to GE AKF type circuit breakers, only qualified, properly trained personnel should perform these maintenance activities.
l l
1 l
IN 86-X)
December XX, 1956 Page 4 of 4 No specific actior or written response is required by this notice.
If you have any questions regarding this matter, please contact the Regional Administrator of the appropriate regional office or this office.
Edward L. Jordan, Director Division of Emergency Preparedness and Engineering Response Office of Inspection and Enforcement Technical Contacts:
K. R. Naidu, IE (301)492-4179 J. Jacobsen, IE (301)492-8845
Attachment:
List of Recently Issued Information Notices l
i f
i I
m
Mr. George W. Sanders, Jr.
GE Nuclear Plant Services 1000 First Avenue King of Prussia, Pennsylvania 19406
Dear Mr. Sanders:
SUBJECT:
DRAFT INFORMATION NOTICE ON GE AKF BREAKERS The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is in the process of preparing an information notice entitled, " Potential Problems with Metal Clad Circuit Breakers, General Electric Type AKF-2-25."
A copy of the latest draf t of this information notice is enclosed for your review and comment.
Comments received by December 31, 1986, particularly those dealing with the facts presented in the information notice, will be considered in the final revision.
Sincerely, Robert L. Baer, Chief Engineering and Generic Communication Branch Division of Emergency Preparedness and Engineering Response Office of Inspection and Enforcement
Enclosure:
As stated DISTRIBUTION:
DCS NRC PDR VPB Reading DQAVT Reading RStarostecki BGrimes HMiller RHeishman EMerschoff JJacobson
- See previous page for concurrences VPB:DQAVT SC/VPB:DQAVT
/VPB:DQAVT BC/EGCB:DEPER JJacobson:tt*
EMerschoff*
eishman RLBaer 12/15/86 12/16/86 it/et/86
/ /86
/
Mr. George W. Sanders, Jr.
GE Nuclear Plant Services 1000 First Avenue King of Prussia, Pennsylvania 19406
Dear Mr. Sanders:
SUBJECT:
DRAFT INFORMATION NOTICE ON GE AKF BREAKERS The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is in the process preparing an information notice entitled, " Potential Problems with Metal C1 Circuit Breakers, General
' Electric Type AKF-2-25."
A copy of the latest draft of this informatio rotice is enclosed for your review and comment.
Comments received by December 31, 1986, p ticularly those dealing with the facts presented in the information notice, wil be considered in the final revision.
Si erely, Robert F. Heishman, Chief Vendor Program Branch Division of Quality Assurance, Vendor and Technical Training Center Programs Office of Inspection and Enforcement
Enclosure:
As stated DISTRIBUTION:
DCS VPB Reading DQAVT Reading RStarostecki BGrimes HMiller RHeishman EMerschoff JJacobson
/
VPB:DQAVT
- DQAVT BC/VPB:DQAVT JJacobson.t rschoff RHeishman il/if/86
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