NRC-92-0036, Forwards Details of Revised & Enchanced EDG Lubricating Oil Monitoring Program at Plant.Program Being Revised to Provide Early Detection of Engine Bearing Trouble & Cost Effectiveness

Forwards Details of Revised & Enchanced EDG Lubricating Oil Monitoring Program at Plant.Program Being Revised to Provide Early Detection of Engine Bearing Trouble & Cost Effectiveness

ML20095E237
Person / Time
Site:	Fermi
Issue date:	04/22/1992
From:	Orser W DETROIT EDISON CO.
To:	NRC OFFICE OF INFORMATION RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (IRM)
References
CON-NRC-92-0036, CON-NRC-92-36 NUDOCS 9204270355
Download: ML20095E237 (6)

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References:

1) Fermi 2 liRC Docr.et tio. 5 0-341 llRC License flo. liPF-43

2). Detroit Edison Letter to 11RC, " Clarification of Dier.o1 Generat or Curaittaents" 11E-85-0459, dat ed March 14, 1985

3) Detroit Edison Letter te 14RC " Diesel Generater LubricatJon Analysia Program". RC-LG-85-0048, dated Septettbet :s.- 1985

4) Detroit Edison Let ter to 14FE. " Consolidation of Outstandinc Issues Concerning the Emergency Diesel Generators tEDG) Inclutiing Proposed Ar:.endtaent to the Operating License for Fermi 2 Plant".

VP-lio-87-0015. - de t ed Janua ry - 28, 1987

5) liRC Let ter t o Det roit Edison " Amendment IJo.12 t o Vacility Operating Licence lio. NPF-43". datsd December 16. 1987

Subject:

Revised EDG Lubricati3 Oil Monit oring Program The purpose of thio letter is to provide.detatie of the revised and enhansed EDG lubricating oil monitoring program at. Ferrai 2..

Detroit Edison eststif shed the EDG lubricating oil monitoring program at Fermi 2 according 'to the ccomitment made in Reference 2 and to comply 4 with Ferni. 2 Operating License Condition 2.C(10). Details of the program were provided in Reference 3.

Subseqt.ently. Reference -4 tuodified that program and t hh License Condition-2.C(10) was amended by Reference 5.

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April 22, 1992 1mC-92-0036 Page 2 The pr ograti io now being s evie,ed t o s tepr ove it s abili ty to provide ea rly detec t icn of engine beaistic t nouble and it a cont elfeetiveneos.

The enclosure t o this let ter provjdA c diveursion of the tovisions being taade and det oils of the feral 2 EDG lubricating oil toonit or dnu

}:ogram.

The revit,ed pregista 4111 alou be Jr. full corupliance with the Fetal 2 Operating Licence Condit ion 2.C. (10).

Futut e changer to Festni 2 EDG lubricating oil tuordt ering progtern not affecting coripliance with the cperating licence condition will be taaintajned on site und recutdo will be c.ede available upon requett t o t he lit'.C f oi eny future inspectfun acttvities.

If you htve any qaestions, pir.are cont ac t Mr. 01rije 5. Thukla sit j

(313) 586-4270.

Sincerely, t

f Enclosure cc T. G. Colburn

/.. B. Davin R. W. DeFayette S. Stacek E

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Pnclosure to NRC-92-0036 Page 1 FEltHI 2 FDG LUilRICATING OIL HOWilt) RING Pit 0GItAH o

INTRODUCTION Detroit Edison established the EDG lubricating oil monitoring program at Fermi 2 according to the comr.itment made in Reference 2 and to comply with Fermi 2 Operating License Condition 2.C.(10).

The program was discussed f r. Reference 3 and included the following:

1.

Sampling the lubricating oil monthly, after temperature has stabilized during the engine's monthly start and load test.

2.

Fermi's site lab performing " quick, gross indications of oil quality and associated engine wear", specifically the pentane insolubles and kinematic viscosity analyses.

3 Detroit Edisor.'s Engineering Research Physical and Analytical Chemistry (ER-PAC) lab performing pentane insolubles and insoluble metale analyses, to indicate wear of a particular engine component.

4.

Cleveland Technical Center, a commercial oil analysis lab, performing suspended metals analysis and other tests to indicate engine component wear or oil degradation.

5.

Acceptance criteria, established and revisable by Detroit Edison, to trigger a bearing clearance check, if two consecutive monthly 3amples exceed the criteria.

6.

Visual examination of lube oil filter; upon removal, for metallic fragments larger than 1/16 inch, triggering bearing clearance che:+ if excessive material is found.

7.

sp+atroscopic analysis of filter deposits, to indicate wear of a particular engino component.

Subsequently, Reference 4 modified that program, specifically deleting the commitment for visual inspection of EDG lube oil filters and t

spectroscopic analysis of the filter deposits, mentioned above as i

items No. 6 and 7, citing ineffectiveness for predicting bearing L

failures.

As a result, License Condition 2.C.(10) was modified in Reference 5 to read, in part, as follows:

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Enclosure to NRC-92-0036 Page 2 (b) " DECO shall obtain and analyze, once each month, an engine lube oil sample from each EDG except when an EDG is unavailable for service.

Should each of two consecutive samples analyzed identify foreign matter / deposits which exceed DECO established limits and which could degrade crankshaft bearing performance, DECO shall inform the NRC immediately, and witnin 15 working days following such notification, submit a report of anelysis results and the detailed corrective action to be taken."

O HEVISIONS TO ITEMS NO. 2 AND 31, in addition to the analysis methods mentioned above, Fermi 2's site lab has performed quantitative ferrographic analysis of the oli samples for early ludication of engine component wear.

Sikilarly, Detroit Edison's Technical and Engineering Services (formerly ER-PAC) lab has performed both quantitative and qualitative ferrographic analysis. The ferrographic analysis indicates both the rate and type of wear occurring and can identify the specific component u7dergoing wear.

These additional ferrographic analyses have proven valuable in monitoring engine wear. The other methods previously committed to provided no reliable indicatian of increased wear.

Since ferrographic analysis has proven to be more sensitive to engine wear, its indications are relied upon, while the pentane t

j insolubles and insoluble metals analyses mentioned in items No. 2 and 3 are used as supportive information.

Senause the pentane insolubles and insoluble metals analyses typically take 2-3 weeks to complete, the information their results might provide may be outdated.

In contrast, the ferrographic analysis results are typically c/allable within 3-4 days after samplin6, allowing timely investigative or corrective actions to be taken. Furthermore, the pentane insolubles and insoluble metals analyses cost approximately $15,000 annually with no significant benefit attained from a safety perspective.

The quantitative ferrographic analysis performed on-site replaces the pentane insolubles mentioned in item 2 as a quick indication of engine wear.

Ferrographic analysis is more sensitive and more informative than pentane insolubles, specifically quantifying wear particle concentrations rather than every insoluble in pentane including soot and non-metallics.

Furthermore, ferrographic analysis is less expensive and less hazardous than highly flammable pentane.

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Enclosure to NRC-92-0036 Page 3 4

Therefore, the pentane insolubles and insoluble metal ana)"* ~.

mentioned in items No. 2 and 3 c.re being replaced by ferrographic analyses.

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REVISION TO ITEM NO. 4:

The commercial oil analysis laboratory under contract at the time of program establisnment was Cleveland Technical Center, as mentioned fr item No. 4.

After surveying the competition, Detro;t Edison har selected a different vendor to perform the analyses to improve timeliness of results reporting and quality of work performed. Hence, Cleveland Technical C*nter is being deleted from item No. 4.

This revision has no impact on the performance of-suspended metal analyses and the commitment is maintained.

O THE PROGRAM:

With these revisions in place, the intent of the lube oil monitoring program is unchanged - to detect incipient bearing damage.

The ability to satisfy that intent has been improved in sensitivity, specificity, aos.. rectiveness and timeliness by these revisions.

By detecting wearing wear early, corrective actions can De taken to maximize availability of the EDGs as an emergency AC supply source. These changes improve that detection capability.

The revised Fermi 2 EDG lubricating oil monitoring program will consist oft-1.

Monthly sampling and analysis of lubricating oil from each EDG, except when an EDG is unavailable for service, after temperature has stabilized during the engine's monthly start and load test.

2..Util1=ing quantitative ferrographic analyses as a quick indication of engine wear, and qualitative ferrographic analyses to indicate wear of a particular engine component.

3 Performing suspended metals analyses and other tests to indicate engine component wear or oil degradation.

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o Enclosure to NRC-92-0036 Page 4 4.

Reviewing results against acceptance limits established by Detroit Edison. Providing corrective actions and immediate NRC notification if each of two consecutive samples analyzed identify foreign matter / deposits which exceed the limits and which could degrade bearing performances; and submitting a report to the NRC within 15 working days following notification with analysis results and details of corrective action.

The revised srogram will also be in full compliance with the Fermi 2 Operating License Condition 2.C(10).

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