ML12110A167

Notification of Potential Part 21 Report - Swagelok U Series Bellows Valves Loosening of Stem Tips

ML12110A167
Person / Time
Site:	Oconee, Callaway
Issue date:	04/17/2012
From:	Flusche B Swagelok Co
To:	Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
47842
Download: ML12110A167 (9)

Text

0411712012 U.S. NuclearRegulatory Commission OperationsCenterEvent Report Page I Part 21 (PAR) Event# 47842 Rep Org: SWAGELOK COMPANY Notification Date I Time: 04/17/2012 13:51 (EDT)

Supplier: SWAGELOK COMPANY Event Date / Time: 04/17/2012 (EST)

Last Modification: 04/17/2012 Region: Docket #:

City: Agreement State: No County: License #:

State:

NRC Notified by: BRUCE FLUSCHE Notifications: REBECCA NEASE R2DO HQ Ops Officer: JOHN SHOEMAKER NEIL OKEEFE R4DO Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY PART 21 GROUP EMAIL 10 CFR Section:

21.21 (d)(3)(i) DEFECTS AND NONCOMPLIANCE PART 21 REPORT - SWAGELOK U SERIES BELLOWS VALVES LOOSENING OF STEM TIPS

'Swagelok received a return from Duke Energy (Oconee) for two 8U series bellows valves for investigation of stem tips that had loosened during performance testing of equipment.

"Our evaluation confirmed loosening of the stem tips and determined the root cause to be higher than normal torque being applied to the valve handle during closure. (Please note that we did not specify a minimum or maximum torque for our operating instructions.) This caused the stem and the stem insert interface to loosen, but not fully disengage. Our tests show that closure to catalog specification of 4.0 x 10-9 atm. cc/sec of helium can still be achieved with this condition.

"Therefore, it is the opinion of Swagelok that there is no inherent safety risk associated due to this condition, however lower than expected flow through the valve, or erratic flow, can occur if the stem tip loosens. If utilities consider full flow as a safety function, they should evaluate the valves currently in service for this condition.

"Applicability - There have been no other field returns for this condition. The possible condition extends to the Swagelok 4U, 6U and 8U series bellows valves. Only hand operated valves are susceptible; air operated valves are excluded, as are the 12U series valves supplied by Swagelok."

Callaway may also be affected and will be notified by the Supplier.

HOO Hoc To: HOO Hoc

Subject:

Event Notice #47842: Swagelok Part 21 Notice - 4/17/2012 Attachments: Swagelok Part 21 .pdf; Summary.pdf; Events.pdf See attached.

Headquarters Operations Officer U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Phone: 301-816-5100 Fax: 301-816-5151 email: hoo.hoc@nrc.gov secure e-mail: hool@nrc.sgov.gov I

Swagelok Company 29495 FA. Lennon Drive Solon, Ohio 44139-3933 440 349 5600 440 519 3304 fax 8w&%Q\0&- www.swaaelok.com Date: April 17, 2012 To: Document Control Desk Nuclear Regulatory Commission From: Bruce Flusche Part 21 Coordinator Swagelok Company Total Pages: 7 (including cover)

Subject:

Potential part 21 notification Will call you shortly to confirm receipt CONFIDENTIALITY NOTE; This cover sheet and the documents accompanying it contain confidential Information that belongs to the sender and is legally privileged, The information is intended unly for use by the recipient named above.

If you are not the Intended reciplient, be aware that any disclosure, copying, distribution, or use of its contents is prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please telephone the sender Immediately.

April 17, 2012 Nuclear Regulatory Commission Document Control Desk Washington, D.C. 20555-0001 Subiect: Potential IOCFR21 notification Purpose We are writing to inform you of a potential issue regarding manually operated Swagelok U series bellows valves.

Swagelok received a return from Duke Energy for two 8U series bellows valves for investigation of stem tips that had loosened during performance testing of equipment.

Our evaluation confirmed loosening of the stem tips and determined the root cause to be higher than normal torque being applied to the valve handle during closure. (Pleasenote that we did not specify a minimum or maximum torquefor our operatinginstructions,)

This caused the stem and the stem insert interface to loosen, but not fully disengage. Our tests show that closure to catalog specification of 4,0 x 10-9 atm. cc/sec of helium can still be achieved with this condition.

Therefore, it is the opinion of Swagelok that there is no inherent safety risk associated due to this condition, however lower than expected flow through the valve, or erratic flow, can occur if the stem tip loosens. Ifutilities consider full flow as a safety function, they should evaluate the valves currently in service for this condition, Appelicability There have been no other field returns for this condition. The possible condition extends to the Swagelok 4U, 6U and 8U series bellows valves. Only hand operated valves are susceptible; air operated valves are excluded, as are the I2U series valves supplied by Swagelok.

Discussion I

Stem Stem Insert The picture above shows a cutaway version of a valve in question.

Although the stem tip may loosen when higher than normal torque is applied to close the valve, the tip will not become completely disengaged from the stem insert, The document below shows the stack up of tolerances on the SU valve, with a loose stem tip. Even with the tip loosened until it contacts the valve body, at least one thread of engagement still remains between the tip and stem insert. This means the stem tip will remain captured within the valve body and will not enter the process stream. Similar conditions apply to the 4U and 6U Series valves.

Tolerance stack-ups between the stem and stem tip for the OU Series valve Outpu of Ccomponent slack-US. Details ProPdtay

["MSTROKE 0.120?

distance of stem adapter IMtt top 0.270

'dstance of stem adapter flat to top- Max "MA stne 070945 H C ei to theds an Stem adapwt 0.06 threafptWinch on adapter 24.0000 number of threads engaged at max

!D W1ste w1:h loose G stem (28E.29E10E) 1.64 The continued engagement of the stem threads also means that the valve can be shut off, even if the threads had loosened. We have tested several conditions of the loose stem tips and confirmed that closure to catalog specification of 4.0 x 10-9 atm. cc/sec of helium can be achieved.

Action Lower than expected flow through the valve, or erratic flow, can occur if the stem tip loosens. If utilities consider full flow as a safety function, they should evaluate the valves currently in service for this condition.

Swagelok will be working with the individual plants in question to assess their application of the valve and will take appropriate action.

Revised drawings will be created for the affected utilities, showing both the recommended and maximum allowable closure torques, for the affected valve series.

IOCFR21 ImIplications We will confirm receipt of this message to you under the requirements of Part 21 and will forward it to the utilities on the attached list.

If you have any questions, please contact:

Bruce Flusche Customer Satisfaction Manager 10CFR21 Coordinator Swagelok Company 29495 F.A. Lennon Drive Solon OH 44139 Bruce.Flusche@Swagelok.com 440 649 5215 office 440 241 4341 cell

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Ameren Power I Date IDistributori Customer Name I Customer PO Part number I Qty I Manufacturer Order Number 07/01/2011 DBORN I Ameren Power 53917e SS-6UW-25017 2 MJ1932001

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