Information Notice 1992-03, Remote Trip Function Failures in General Electric F-Frame Molded-Case Circuit Breakers

Remote Trip Function Failures in General Electric F-Frame Molded-Case Circuit Breakers

ML031200762
Person / Time
Site:	Beaver Valley, Millstone, Hatch, Monticello, Calvert Cliffs, Dresden, Davis Besse, Peach Bottom, Browns Ferry, Salem, Oconee, Mcguire, Nine Mile Point, Palisades, Palo Verde, Perry, Indian Point, Fermi, Kewaunee, Catawba, Harris, Wolf Creek, Saint Lucie, Point Beach, Oyster Creek, Watts Bar, Hope Creek, Grand Gulf, Cooper, Sequoyah, Byron, Pilgrim, Arkansas Nuclear, Three Mile Island, Braidwood, Susquehanna, Summer, Prairie Island, Columbia, Seabrook, Brunswick, Surry, Limerick, North Anna, Turkey Point, River Bend, Vermont Yankee, Crystal River, Haddam Neck, Ginna, Diablo Canyon, Callaway, Vogtle, Waterford, Duane Arnold, Farley, Robinson, Clinton, South Texas, San Onofre, Cook, Comanche Peak, Yankee Rowe, Maine Yankee, Quad Cities, Humboldt Bay, La Crosse, Big Rock Point, Rancho Seco, Zion, Midland, Bellefonte, Fort Calhoun, FitzPatrick, McGuire, LaSalle, Fort Saint Vrain, Shoreham, Satsop, Trojan, Atlantic Nuclear Power Plant
Issue date:	01/06/1992
From:	Rossi C Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To:
References
IN-92-003, NUDOCS 9112300071
Download: ML031200762 (10)

UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY

COMMISSION

OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555 January 6, 1992 NRC INFORMATION

NOTICE 92-03: REMOTE TRIP FUNCTION FAILURES IN GENERAL ELECTRIC F-FRAME MOLDED-CASE

CIRCUIT BREAKERS

Addressees

All holders of operating

licenses or construction

permits for nuclear power reactors.

Purpose

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory

Commission (NRC) is issuing this information

notice to alert addressees

to a potentially

safety-significant

problem resulting

from the possible failure of the remote trip functions

of General Electric (GE)F-frame (225-ampere

frame size) molded-case

circuit breakers (MCCBs). It is expected that recipients

will review the information

for applicability

to their facilities

and consider actions, as appropriate, to avoid similar problems.However, suggestions

contained

in this information

notice are not NRC require-ments; therefore, no specific action or written response is required.Description

of Circumstances

On November 5, 1991, GE Nuclear Energy (GE NE), San Jose, California, issued an interim notification

of its evaluation

of a deviation

in accordance

with the latest revision (effective

October 29, 1991) of Part 21, "Reporting

of Defects and Noncompliance," of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations

(10 CFR Part 21). The notification

described

the deviation

as a "tolerance

buildup" in certain GE F-frame MCCBs with undervoltage

releases (UVRs) and shunt trip devices (STs) that may inhibit these internal accessory

remote trip devices from functioning

properly under conditions

that produce sustained

high internal temperatures

in the MCCBs.The attachment

to the GE NE notification

was taken from a draft Service Advice Letter (SAL) on this subject being prepared by the MCCB manufacturer, GE Electrical

Distribution

and Control (ED&C), in Plainville, Connecticut.

GE NE plans to send the 10 CFR Part 21 interim notification

to all of its customers

who have purchased

F-frame MCCBs for safety-related

applications

and to all GE NE Material Services field representatives.

GE ED&C plans to send the SAL (issued November 25, 1991 as SAL 91-2F) to all of its customers

of record, many of whom are distributors.

However, both the F-frame MCCBs and their accessory

trip devices are available

on the open market as commercial

grade items through various distribution

paths. Therefore, the licensees

for some nuclear plants who use these MCCBs may not receive the GE notifications.-e 7* '-923/ _ // 7#cc.

IN 92-03 January 6, 1992 Discussion

Although still evaluating

the problem, the MCCB manufacturer

has determined

that assembly and operational

variations

caused the reported failures.

The variations

reportedly

resulted from (1) tolerances

in mounting the accessory trip devices in the MCCBs, (2) tolerances

on the adjustment

of the ambient compensating

bimetal (part of the thermal overload trip mechanism), and (3)sustained

high operating

temperatures

in the MCCBs. The high internal temper-ature in the MCCB required to produce a condition

conducive

to the malfunction

can result from continuous

high current load (greater than 50 percent of the overcurrent

trip unit rating for more than 2 hours2.314815e-5 days <br />5.555556e-4 hours <br />3.306878e-6 weeks <br />7.61e-7 months <br />) together with a high ambient temperature

in the enclosure.

A secondary

heat source could also produce the high temperatures

required for this malfunction.

GE NE stated in its interim notification

that UYR- and ST-equipped

MCCBs produced after April 1991 (date codes J116= and 1116=) incorporated

changes that would prevent this condition.

GE NE also stated that an MCCB may or may not exhibit this malfunction, depending

on the particular

circumstances

associated

with the assembly of the breaker and the accessory

remote trip devices, in conjunction

with the high temperature

service conditions

believed to be conducive

to failure. Nevertheless, GE NE maintained

that affected MCCBs will trip under overcurrent

conditions

and will trip remotely at the lower MCCB internal temperatures

usually present with lower load currents and enclosure ambient temperatures

or without secondary

heat sources.GE NE initially

reported that it had identified

a. specific safety-related

application

for the affected F-frame MCCBs equipped with internal accessory remote trip devices. The identified

application

is associated

with the multiple electrical

protection

assemblies (EPAs) used in boiling water reactor (BWR) plants to monitor power quality to the reactor protection

system (RPS).The EPAs trip the F-frame breakers for the RPS power supplies by means of the remote trip devices if the EPAs detect overvoltage, undervoltage, or underfre-quency conditions

in RPS power. In addition, GE NE informed the NRC in a subsequent

communication

that it may also have supplied some of the affected MCCBs as part of subassembly-level

applications

not separately

identified

in GE NE records. The affected MCCBs fitted with factory-installed

remote trip accessories

may also be used in numerous other applications

in all types of nuclear plants in which remote tripping of an F-frame MCCB by means of the UVR or ST may be a safety-related

function.The presence of UVRs or STs in F-frame MCCBs should be apparent when the units are installed

in the plant. However, even if accessory

designation

markings are not evident, affected MCCBs can be recognized

by the two UVR or ST lead wires protruding

through small openings in the sides of the MCCB case.Additionally, UVRs set up for monitoring

240, 480, or 600 volts-AC or 250 volts-DC should have an external dropping resistor connected

in series with one of their lead wires. Attachment

1 lists the breaker frame type designations

of

IN 92-03 January 6, 1992 the potentially

affected MCCBs and the catalog numbers of the affected internal accessory

remote trip devices and also gives the date codes of the units believed by the manufacturer

to be affected.In view of the potentially

wide scope of application

of the affected MCCBs, addressees

may find the affected types of UVR- and ST-equipped

MCCBs both installed

and in the warehouse.

Addressees

who find any affected MCCBs may consult the manufacturer

on this subject to determine

the appropriate

corrective

action, including

testing for the existence

of the malfunction, analyzing

the potential

high temperature

producing

conditions, or replacing the affected components.

This information

notice requires no specific action or written response.

If you have any questions

about the information

in this notice, please contact the technical

contact listed below or the appropriate

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR) project manager.I.1os i S Doirector Division of Operational

Events Assessment

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Technical

contact: S. D. Alexander, NRR (301) 504-2995 Attachments:

1. Affected MCCBs and Accessories

2. List of Recently Issued NRC Information

Notices

Attachment

1 IN 92-03 January 6, 1992 AFFECTED MCCBs and ACCESSORIES

The affected GE F-frame ("F-225 Line") MCCBs include the breaker types or frames listed below which can be fitted with any of the accessory

remote trip devices with the listed catalog numbers: BREAKER FRAMES SHUNT TRIPS UNDERVOLTAGE

RELEASES TFK, THFK TFKSTA12 TFKUVA1 TFJ TFKSTA13 TFKUVA2 THLC2 TFKSTA7 TFKUVA4 THLB2 TFKSTA8 TFKUVA6 THLC4 TFKSTA9 TFKUVA7 TLB4 TFKSTA11 TFKUYA8 TFKUVA9 TFKUVA10 TFKUVA11 According

to GE NE and GE ED&C, the tolerance

buildup affects F-frame MCCBs and UYRs and STs assembled

between August 1979 and April 1991 (accessory

date codes N927* through N116=). The potentially

affected MCCBs could have manufacturing

date codes J927* through J116= (1116= for current limiting frames), but ED&C reported no identifiable

volume of field returns for this condition

among MCCBs built before the fourth quarter of 1987 (breaker date codes J736+ and I736+).The accessory

date code is its manufacturing

date code and only appears on the accessory

itself. However, the date code from the accessory

installation

facility may appear on the MCCB case in addition to the manufacturing

date code of the MCCB.

Attachment

2 IN 92-03 January 6, 1992 LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED NRC INFORMATION

NOTICES Information

Date of Notice No. Subject Issuance Issued to 92-02 92-01 91-87 91-86 91-85 91-84 91-83 Relap5/Mod3 Computer Code Error Associated

with the Conservation

of Energy Equation Cable Damage Caused by Inadequate

Cable Installa-tion Procedures

and Controls Hydrogen Embrittlement

of Raychem Cryofit Couplings New Reporting

Requirements

for Contamination

Events at Medical Facilities

(10 CFR 30.50)Potential

Failures of Thermostatic

Control Valves for Diesel Generator

Jacket Cooling Water Problems with Criticality

Alarm Components/Systems

Solenoid-Operated

Valve Failures Resulted in Turbine Overspeed High-Energy

Piping Failures Caused by Wall Thinning Problems with Diaphragms

in Safety-Related

Tanks 01/03/92 01/03/92 12/27/91 12/27/91 12/26/91 12/26/91 12/20/91 12/18/91 12/18/91 All holders of OLs or CPs for nuclear power reactors.All holders of OLs or CPs for nuclear power reactors.All holders of OLs or CPs for nuclear power reactors.All licensees

authorized

to use byproduct

materials for human use.All holders of OLs or CPs for nuclear power reactors.All Nuclear Regulatory

Commission (NRC) fuel cycle licensees, interim spent fuel storage licens-ees, and critical mass licensees.

All holders of OLs or CPs for nuclear power reactors.All holders of OLs or CPs for nuclear power reactors.All holders of OLs or CPs for nuclear power reactors.91-18, Supp. 1 91-82 OL = Operating

License CP = Construction

Permit

IN 91-XX December XX, 1991 the potentially

affected MCCBs and the catalog numbers of the affected internal accessory

remote trip devices and also gives the date codes of the units believed by the manufacturer

to be affected.In view of the potentially

wider scope of the application

of the affected MCCBs, addressees

may find the affected types of UVR- and ST-equipped

MCCBs both installed

and in the warehouse.

Addressees

who find any affected MCCBs may consult the manufacturer

on this subject to determine

the appropriate

corrective

action, including

testing to confirm the existence

of the malfunc-tion, analyzing

the potential

high temperature

producing

conditions, or replacing

the affected components.

No specific action or written response is required by this notice. If you have any questions

regarding

this notice, please call the technical

contact listed below, or the appropriate

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR)project manager.Charles E. Rossi, Director Division of Operational

Events Assessment

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Technical

Conti Attachment

1: Attachment

2: Ict: S. D. Alexander, NRR (301) 504-2995 Affected MCCBs and Accessories

List of Recently Issued NRC Information

Notices DISTRIBUTION:

Central Flles SAlexander

CBerlinger

PDR CVanDenburgh

ERossi DRIS R/F LNorrholm VIB R/F BGrimes* see previous concurrences

OFC :VIB/DRIS

VIB/DRIS

VIB/DRIS

TECH ED :D:DRIS NAME :SAlexander:sda

CVanDenburgh

LNorrholm

JMain :BKGrimes DATE :12/19/91*

12/4/91*

12/19/91*

12/4/91*

12/19/91*

OFC :B'9C: ~8L9A :DD:DOEA: NAM CBe :CERossi: DATE :12/tO/91

12/ /91 : : OFFICIAL RECORD COPY Document Name: GE FFRAME MCCB INFO NOTICE

IN 92-03 January 6, 1992 the potentially

affected MCCBs and the catalog numbers of the affected internal accessory

remote trip devices and also gives the date codes of the units believed by the manufacturer

to be affected.In view of the potentially

wide scope of application

of the affected MCCBs, addressees

may find the affected types of UVR- and ST-equipped

MCCBs both installed

and in the warehouse.

Addressees

who find any affected MCCBs may consult the manufacturer

on this subject to determine

the appropriate

corrective

action, including

testing for the existence

of the malfunction, analyzing

the potential

high temperature

producing

conditions, or replacing the affected components.

This information

notice requires no specific action or written response.

If you have any questions

about the information

in this notice, please contact the technical

contact listed below or the appropriate

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR) project manager.original Signed by Charles E. Rossi Charles E. Rossi, Director Division of Operational

Events Assessment

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Technical

contact: S. D. Alexander, NRR (301) 504-2995 Attachments:

1. Affected MCCBs and Accessories

2. List of Recently Issued NRC Information

Notices* see previous concurrences

OFC :VIB/DRIS

YIB/DRIS

VIB/DRIS

TECH ED :D:DRIS NAME :SAlexander:sda

CVanDenburgh

LNorrholm

JMain :BKGrimes DATE :12/19/91*

12/4/91*

12/19/91*

12/4/91*

12/19/91*

OFC :BC:GCB:DOEA

DD:D0EA NAME :CBerlinger

oRJ O : : : DATE :12/20/91*

12/tW91 : : : OFFICIAL RECORD COPY Document Name: IN 92-03 IN 91-XX December XX, 1991 Pace 3 of 3 the potentially

affected MCCBs and the catalog numbers of the affected internal accessory

remote trip devices and also gives the date codes of the units believed by the manufacturer

to be affected.In view of the potentially

wider scope of the application

of the affected MCCBs, addressees

may find the affected types of UVR- and ST-equipped

MCCBs both installed

and in the warehouse.

Addressees

who find any affected MCCBs may consult the manufacturer

on this subject to determine

the appropriate

corrective

action, including

testing to confirm the existence

of the malfunc-tion, analyzing

the potential

high temperature

producing

conditions, or replacing

the affected components.

No specific action or written response is required by this notice. If you have any questions

regarding

this notice, please call the technical

contact listed below, or the appropriate

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR)project manager.Charles E. Rossi, Director Division of Operational

Events Assessment

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Technical

Contact: S. D. Alexander, NRR (301) vq-0995 Attachment

1: Affected MCCBs and Accessories

Attachment

2: List of Recently Issued NRC Information

Notices DISTRIBUTION:

Central Files PDR DRIS R/F VIB R/F SAlexander

CVanDenburgh

LNorrholm

BGrimes CBerlinger

ERossi* see previous concurrences

OFC :VIB/DRIS

VIB/DRIS :VIB IS :TECH ED___-_--_---_-_-

l----- ---------.---

f-- ------- --------------

-- iv- ------- --------------

NAME :5Alexander:sda:

CVanDenburgh

L L Wm :JMain s DATE :1 2 4J9 1 :12/4/91*

12A9/91 :12/4/91*

12/11 /91 CA" OFC :BC:.BDOEA

DD:DOEA : ' : NAME C erlinger :CERossi : : DATE --- ------ :-------1/----_

___________:______________

---

---

DATE :12/,vO/91

121 /9-1 :: OFFICIAL RECORD COPY Document Name: DRAFT GE INFO MCCB NOTICE

IN 91-XX December XX, 1991 No specific action or written response is required by this notice. If you have any questions

regarding

this notice, please call the technical

contact listed below, or the appropriate

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR) project manager.Charles E. Rossi, Director Division of Operational

Events Assessment

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Technical

Contact: S. D. Alexander, NRR (301) 492-0995 Attachment

1: Affected MCCBs and Accessories

Attachment

2: List of Recently Issued NRC Information

Notices DISTRIBUTION:

Central Files PDR SAlexander

CVanDenburgh

CBerlinger

ERossi DRIS R/F LNorrholm VIB R/F BGrimes* see previous concurrences

OFFICE DRIS:VIB DRIS:VIB DRIST B TECH ED 0 NAME SALEXANDER

CVANDENBURGH

JIAIN DATE *12/ 4/91 *12/ 4/91 12/../91 *12/ 4/91 12/;, /91[OFFICE DOEA:GCB DOEA:DD NAME CBERLINGER

EROSSI DATE 12/ /91 12/ /91 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY Document Name: GER2.IN

IN 91-XX December XX, 1991 No specific action or written response is required by this notice. If you have any questions

regarding

this notice, please call the technical

contact listed below, or the appropriate

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

project manager.Charles E. Rossi, Director Division of Operational

Events Assessment

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Technical

Contact: S. D. Alexander, NRR (301) 492-0995 Attachment

1: Frame Types and Date Codes of Affected MCCBs and Catalog Numbers and Date Codes of Affected Acces-sories Attachment

2: List of Recently Issued NRC Information

Notices DISTRIBUTION:

Central Files SAlexander

CBerlinger

PDR CVanDenburgh

ERossi DRIS R/F LNorrholm VIB R/F BGrimes OFFICE DRIS:VIB DRIS:VIB DRIS:VIB TECH ED DRIS:DD NAME ACVAN GH LNORRHOLM

JMAIN 9T% BGRIMES DATE 1 2/ LJ/91 12/1 /91 12/ /91 12/ Y/91 12/ /91 OFFICE DOEA:GCB DOEA:DD NAME CBERLINGER

EROSSI DATE 12/ /91 12/ /91