ML14094A444

Interim Part 21 Report - Misaligned Separators in LCR-25 Standby Batteries

ML14094A444
Person / Time
Site:	Palisades
Issue date:	03/28/2014
From:	Rheault C C & D Technologies
To:	Document Control Desk, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
49907
Download: ML14094A444 (6)

Text

' 0312812014 U.S. Nuclear Rerulatorv Commission OperationsCenter Event Report Page I Part 21 (PAR) Event# 49967 Rep Org: C&D TECHNOLOGIES INC Notification Date / Time: 03/28/2014 13:02 (EDT)

Supplier: C&D TECHNOLOGIES INC Event Date / Time: 02/14/2012 (EDT)

Last Modification: 03/28/2014 Region: 1 Docket #:

City: BLUE BELL Agreement State: Yes County: License #:

State: PA NRC Notified by: CHRISTIAN RHEAULT Notifications: MEL GRAY R1DO HO Ops Officer: STEVE SANDIN MARVIN SYKES R2DO Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY BILLY DICKSON R3DO 10 CFR Section: NRR PART 21 GROUP EMAIL 21.21(a)(2) INTERIM EVAL OF DEVIATION INTERIM PART 21 REPORT - MISALIGNED SEPARATORS IN LCR-25 STANDBY BATTERIES The following is the summary portion of the report submitted by fax:

"Subject Interim Report - Inability to Complete 10CFR Part 21 Evaluation Regarding Misaligned Separators in LCR-25 Standby Batteries "The purpose of this letter is to provide the NRC a report in general conformity to the requirements of 10CFR Part 21.21 (a)(2). On February 14, 2012 C&D Technologies, Inc. ('C&D') was informed by Entergy Operations that an LCR-25 battery installed at the Palisades Nuclear Power Plant had shown signs of misaligned separators (also known as shifted separators) of between 1/8 tol/4 [inch]. This was identified by the Palisades plant on or about November 4, 2011. On January 16, 2012, three additional cells were identified as experiencing separator misalignment.

"C&D requested that Palisades return the affected batteries for evaluation of this anomaly and issued a Return Material Authorization for that purpose. But since voltage readings were acceptable for all units involved, Palisades determined that an operability issue did not exist and opted to keep the batteries in service until their refuel outage scheduled for Fall, 2013. C&D inadvertently closed the internal corrective action without providing an Interim Report as required by 10CFR, Part 21.

"C&D has not performed a root cause technical evaluation to determine if there is any defect in the component or manufacturing process or whether the reported condition may have been due to user abuse of product, improper maintenance or other negligence or error.

"Thus, C&D is submitting this interim report to the NRC and notifying C&D's customers that use C&D LCR-25

03/2812014 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission OperationsCenterEvent Report Page 2 batteries of this interim report, and is initiating an action plan to evaluate the reported potential defect and determine whether it could pose a substantial safety hazard for any U.S. licensee using such batteries.

"If you have any questions or wish to discuss this matter or this report, please contact:

Robert Malley VP Quality and Process Engineering bmalley@cdtechno.com (215) 619-7830" The sites affected are:

Palisades - 65 x LCR-25 NUC Batteries and, Crystal River - 4 x LCR-25 NUC Batteries

TO 913018165151 P.01 MAR-28-2014 13:02 FROM C&D TECHNOLOGIES LEGAL ITEUHINOLGISiN.,

Powor Solutions 1400 Union Meeting Road Blue Bell, PA 19422 Phone: (215) 619-7849 Fax: (215) 619-7840 March 27, 2014 VIA FACSIMILE Nuclear Regulatory Commission Operations Center 301-816-5151 VIA REGULAR MAIL Document Control Desk US Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555-0001 VIA OVERNIGHT DELIVERY US Nuclear Regulatory Commission 11555 Rockville Pike Rockville, MD 20852-2746

Subject:

Interim Report - Inability to Complete 10CFR Part 21 Evaluation Regarding Misaligned Separators in LCR-25 Standby Batteries The purpose of this letter is to provide the NRC a report in general conformity to the requirements of 10CFR Part 21.21 (a)(2)- On February 14, 2012 C&D Technologies, Inc.

("C&D") was informed by Entergy Operations that an LCR-25 battery installed at the Palisades Nuclear Power Plant had shown signs of misaligned separators (also known as shifted separators) of between 1/8 to Y4. This was identified by the Palisades plant on or about November 4, 2011. On January 16, 2012, three additional cells were identified as experiencing separator misalignment.

C&D requested that Palisades return the affected batteries for evaluation of this anomaly and issued a Return Material Authorization for that purpose. But since voltage readings were acceptable for all units involved, Palisades determined that an operability issue did not exist and opted to keep the batteries in service until their refuel outage scheduled for Fall, 2013. C&D inadvertently closed the internal corrective action without providing an Interim Report as required by 10CFR, Part 21.

C&D has not performed a root cause technical evaluation to determine if there is any defect in the component or manufacturing process, or whether the reported condition may have been due to user abuse of product, improper maintenance or other negligence or error.

MAR-28-2014 13:03 FROM C&D TECHNOLOGIES LEGPL TO 913018165151 P.02 NRC Interim Report March 27, 2014 Page 2 of 4 Thus, C&D is submitting this interim report to the NRC and notifying C&D's customers that use C&D LCR-25 batteries of this Interim report, and is initiating an action plan to evaluate the reported potential defect and determine whether it could pose a substantial safety hazard for any U.S- licensee using such batteries.

Required information as per 10 CFR Part 21.21 (d)(4) follows:

(i) Name and Address of the individual or individuals informing the Commission Christian Rheault (or Designee)

President and Chief Executive Officer C&D Technologies, Inc.

1400 Union Meeting Road Blue Bell, PA 19422-0858 (ii) Identification of the facility, the activity, or the basic component supplied for such facility or such activity within the United States which falls to comply or containsa defect LCR-25 Batteries, manufactured in 2010, battery manufacturing date is on the label.

Note: C&D has not completed its evaluation of the reported potential defect and whether it could pose a substantial safety hazard at any U.S. licensee using such batteries.

(iii) Identification of the firm constructing the facility or supplying the basic component which fails to comply or contains a defect.

C&D Technologies, Inc.

1400 Union Meeting Road Blue Bell, PA 19422-0858 (iv) Nature of the defect or failure to comply and the safety hazard which is created or could be createdby such defect or failure to comply.

The batteries with misaligned separators have not been fully evaluated and may or may not indicate a potential defect which could create a substantial safety hazard.

(v) The date on which the information of such defect or failure to comply was obtained.

February 14, 2012 (vi) In the case of a basic component which contains a defect or falls to comply, the number and location of these components In use at, supplied for, being supplied for, or may be supplied for, manufacturedor being manufacturedfor one or more facilities or activitiessubject to the regulationsin this Part.

TO 913018165151 P.03 MAR-28-2014 13:03 FROM C&D TECHNOLOGIES LEGPL NRC Interim Report March 27, 2014 Page 3 of 4 at Nuclear Plants in 1E applications made in 2010 LCR-25 batteries used Utility Plant Battery Model Qty. of Name Batteries Entergy Palisades LCR-25 NUC 65 Progress Energy (now Crystal LCR-25 NUC 4 Duke Energy) River (vii) The corrective action which has been, is being, or will be taken; the name of the individual or organization responsible for the action; and the length of time that has been or will be taken to complete the action.

Co-Current Actions underway to complete the evaluation:

a) Upon receipt of the batteries from the Entergy Palisades Plant, C&D will evaluate the causes of the condition. Maximum time - 30 days from receipt of the batteries.

b) In conjunction with the licensees identified in section (vi), C&D will recommend maintenance assessment of all LCR-25 batteries at these locations to determine their status, and specifically the presence of any evidence of potential defects via visual examination. For any cells exhibiting the presence of potential defect, C&D shall further recommend that they be returned for analysis, Estimated completion date of analysis is thirty (30) days from the receipt of the returned batteries.

(viii) Any advice related to the defect or failure to comply about the facility, activity, or basic component that has been, is being, or will be given to purchasers or licensees.

U.S. Licensees using batteries possibly containing the potential defect are being notified of the filing of this interim report with recommendations that they examine their batteries for any signs of similar problems. See attached notification letter.

(ix) In the case of an early site permit, the entities to whom an early site permit was transferred.

Not applicable If you have any questions or wish to discuss this matter or this report, please contact; Robert Malley VP Quality and Process Engineering bmalley@cdtechno.com (215) 619-7830 Sincerely, Christian Rheault President and Chief Executive Officer C&D Technologies, Inc.

='k, MAR-28-2014 13:03 FROM C&D TECHNOLOGIES LEGAL TO 913018165151 P.04 NRC Interim Report March 27, 2014 Page 4 of 4 Attachment - C&D Letter to Users of LCR-25 batteries entitled "Inability to Complete IOCFR Part 21 Evaluation Regarding Shifting Separators in LCR-25 Standby Batteries",

dated 3/20/14 Cc: D. Anderson J. Miller R. Malley S. DiMauro L. Carson J. Anderson TOTAL P.04