ML17206A612

Responds to NRC Ltr Re Violations Noted in IE Insp Rept 50-389/78-10.Corrective Actions:Presents Explanation of Problem W/Loose Impeller Locking Nut & Why Incident Was Not Reported to Nrc.W/Encl Correspondence Re Issue

ML17206A612
Person / Time
Site:	Saint Lucie
Issue date:	12/19/1978
From:	Robert E. Uhrig FLORIDA POWER & LIGHT CO.
To:	Murphy C NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION II)
Shared Package
ML17206A611	List: IR 05000389/1978010 ML17206A612
References
L-78-391, NUDOCS 7901180316
Download: ML17206A612 (13)

See also: IR 05000389/1978010

Text

P.O.IIOX 013100, MIAMI.FL 33101FLORIDA POIlVER a LIGHT CO'".PA/.~December 19, 1978 L-78-391 Mr.C.E.Murphy, Chief Reactor Construction

and Engineering

Support Sranch U.S.Nuclear Regulatory

Commission

101 Marietta Street, Suite 3100 Atlanta, Georgia 30303 Dear Mr.Murphy: Re: RII:RWW 50-389/78-10

Florida Power&Light Company has reviewed the subject inspection

report and its response is contained in Attachment

A.There is no proprietary

information

con-tained in the report.Very truly yours,~gj g.>>c Robert E.Uhrig Vice President REU:LLL:cf

Attachment

cc: Mr.James P.O'Reilly Office of Inspection

and Enforcement

Harold F.Reis, Esquire

1 I

ATTACHMENT

A RESPONSE TO RII:RWW, 50-389/78-10

Findin 1: 2 Inch Tar et Rock Safet In ection Valve Deficienc The RII inspector noted that both CE and the RII had informed FPL of an excessive pressure drop with the subject valves, and that FPL appeared to incorrectly

evaluate the incident as non-reportable, contrary to CE's conclusion

that it indeed was reportable

under 10 CFR 50.55(e).~Res onse: Me wish to note that 10 CFR 50.55(e)clearly states that the holder of the construction

permit is responsible

for the determination

of whether a construction

incident is reportable, and not the NSSS vendor.FPL has used the assistance

of a number of parties, including CE, in its determin-ation of the reportability

of this item, but by no means does the opinion of an outside organization

bind us to its conclusion.

It appears that the major difference

between RII and FPL, regarding the reportability

of this item, lies in the interpretation

of the phrase in 10 500 50.55(5(11(,"~iifl 5 fl 1 1 fl 1 d fg." (5 dl added.)FPL's review of this problem concluded that the issue was a valid safety-related

defect, but not a significant

one;therefore, no reporting was required.This judgement is based on the fact that (1)the valves were not to be installed for sometime, (2)the problem was identified

through normal gA channels (via CE), and (3)the repair was minor and easily performed without extensive evaluation

or redesign.Based upon the above, FPL must take exception to the findings noted by the inspector.

It is FPL's opinion that problems such as the above, identified

and resolved through routine channels, are normal repair items typically encountered

on a construction

site.Due to the fact that safety-related

equipment was involved, FPL invoked the evaluation

procedures

and maintained

records of the resolution

to ensure proper handling of the issue and compliance

with the appropriate

gA procedures.

f>(f~pj>

TTACHt<ENT

A-RESPONSE TO RII:RWW, 50-389/78-10

Page 2 Findin 2: In ersol 1-Rand I-R Low Pressure Safet LPSI and Containment

S ra Pum CSP Oeficienc The RII inspector noted that FPL knew of a problem with an impeller locking nut assembly working loose at one of its other plants (Turkey Point)in November 1975 and was informed by RII on August 23, 1978 of the potential deficiency

as well.-The inspector further states that despite"knowledge

of this potential significant

deficiency

in final design" FPL failed to report the matter to the NRC in accord-ance with 10 CFR 50.55(e).~ll 2: This issue arose from FPL's concern over a maintenance

item.The Turkey Point problem was resolved by tack-welding

the nut tight, and in 1975 FPL requested assurance from I-R that this or some other satisfactory

method of securing the locknuts for pumps to be supplied for St.Lucie Unit 2 would be provided.At this time the pumps were not yet'manufac-

tured.Me are attaching copies of our correspondence

on this matter, which were not available to the inspector, which we believe will further clarify the issue.Our opinion on the significance

of this item is the same as that for the finding above.This is a minor item, picked up by FPL's normal gA and preventative

maintenance

program and is non-reportable.

Further, a deficiency

either in final design or construction, has not been identified

with the pumps supplied for Unit 2.Based upon the above, FPL must take exception to the finding noted by the inspector.

FPL believes that utilities which use the experiences

of other units to uncover and correct problems before they develop, as happened in these instances, should be corenended, and not found to be in blanket non-compliance

with NRC reporting'procedures.

Should RII disagree with our interpretation

of"significant", we suggest that further discussion

to clarify the issue may be appropriate.

~.l

I f~r.~.c u+Vta>m, NIMBI, SLORIDA 3llOI~lFLORIDA POWER 5 LIGHT CO:.IPAiV November 21, 1975 EBASCO SERVICES, INC.Two Rector Street New York, New York 10006 Attention:

/.COMBUSTION

ENGINEERING

P 0.Box 500 Qindsor, CT 06095 Mr.L.Tsar.ris, Project Manager Attention:

Mr.A.S.Janeson, Project Manager (ST-IVCIE PLANT UNIT 81-1974-890 Kf INSTALI KTION UNIT 82-1979-890 Kl EKTENSION ST.I.VCIE UNIT f/2 PSL 2 LPSI AND CONTAIN-hT SPP4Y PlM'S PILES: CE-950-0775

AND NY-422527 FL0-566, FF-860 Gentlemen:

P.L's Turkey Point nuclear units we use pumps for Residual Heat Removal ervice which are of the same brand (I-R)and similar in design to PSL 2 JZSI"nd contain-ent

spray pcs.During disassembly'of

the Turkey?oint pumps for seal maintenance

it vas ooserved on more than one occassion that tne impeller locking"..-arse-bly had worked loose.F?L tack-welded

the loc::nut assemblies

to preclude the possibility

of loosening.

Indica"fons

from the local I-R representative

are that the impeller locknut assemo'es to be usec a:?SL 2 are the same as those furnished at Turkey Point.Please obtain assurance from I-R that they vill provide loc'Inputs

secured=y tack-welding

or some other satisfactory

method.Also since there was considerab~e

difficulg experienced

vith gasket leakage at Turkey?Oi=t

please obtain from I-R assurance that we vill not have this problem a" S=.Lucie 2.Yours very truly, RLS/m=b'ee Attachment

~v C.S.Kent Project Manager 6 X O~-r,b ,h;~'3 q4 ib Ig

M.'.Jameson 0 N er 21, 1975 RE: FLO-566, PF-860 ccrc Hra Mr.Mr.Mr.Hr.Mr.Mr.Mr.Mr.Hr.Mr.Mr.Mr.Hr.Mr.Dr.Mr.Mr.Mr.C.B.Amos Lou Borchardt G.E.Crowell R.A.DeLorenzo J.D.Distel J.H.Risher 0.R.Gray K.N.Harris R.W.Kammann J.L.Legier G.N.Lemmon J.E.Ramondo W.H.Rogers, Jr.A.D.Schmdit D.J.Stephens R.E.Uhrig J.E.Vessely C.E.Waddell L.J.Weber N.T.Weems

'i-E Power Systcins ,, Combusr<on

r ngulcrrinrr, Inc.00 Prosper.'rirl

Road sor.Ccnnccncut

06095 Tel 203/063 lgl l Telex~J iJ2J7~pOVlf:-R~SYSTEMS April 6, 1976 L-CE-1328 St.Lucie Plant Unit No.2-1978-890 i'xtension

Mr.C.S.Kent Enr ineering Project Manag r Florida Power&Light Co.P.O.Box 3100 Miami, Florida 33101 SUBJECT: LPSI PFG'S Dear Mr.Kent: FP&L letter FF-860 of i".ovenber

21, 1975 advised C-E that you had experienced

on the Turkey Point plant loosening of the impeller locknut assembly on t.ho In crsoll-Rand

residual heat rcr oval pumps and Basket leakage, and requested ance from the a nufacturer

that these same problems would not occur with nit 2 LPSI and containment

spray pu=ps.Ve have taken uu this r.".atter with Ingersoll-Pand, the supplier of the LPSI~, pumps i;l the C-E sco"=, and t.ley)lave respond d to the concern about the lnce-nut.assembl" (but not the gasket lea'kage problem);two (2)cop'es of the In"ersoll-Rand

letter of"..arch 23, 1976 are attached for your in.ormation.

ie will"o back to Innersol-:=--..d to detert ine what remedy tlrey propose to elitlinate

~~~ni gasket I::ak-e p ob".:.,a t you lrave i"ced on the Turkey Po int pumps an: will le'o-".ow

their resp=nse to this other concern as soon as we receive it.Uery truly yours, ASJ/es Enclosur s (")CC: T.L.J.E.L.W.0~~~w/]D 7'~-.i 1 R.S.".nt osuosso R=: "..sen AD DeLorenzo Lcskovjan H.Roger , Jr.K.Harris C.Crnwell C.W.Dakin B.J.Escuc J.R.Cindi r R.W.Knmvinnn S.W."Srrablr ry C.E.Vnddel l E.H.Srrr t r DP1~.l eh)r';~~)~','.;(,'~"I s l t I.I"'rot\"rlr Ar R vl~T'I i':.r'.~g i~I'I~'.l~>its J'>>:tl~r/Žz/A.S.Janeson Project Manager F>.a r.co-e;va,er.T.crir-

0 F

Q t,'m~aD.a OH-I-.:km:~aD

CCm~~~camvZ

Za ft~san'PHILLLPSGURG, N.J.08bdS Combustion

Engineering, Inc.IOOO Prospect Hill Road)windsor, CT 06095 23 MR 76 Attention:

Mr.A.S.Jameson Project llanager Subject: Florida Power C Light St.Lucie Unit P2 C.E.P.O.9500775 LPSI Pumps I-R Ref: OOI-35382 Reference: (A)C.E.letter L-PCE-408 dated l9 DE 75.entlemen: response to Ref.(A)on shaft/impeller

locking nuts, I-R nas in:esti-aated several occurrences

in which the locking nuts lo"sened and fn nd that the causes were either improper installation

afier maintenance

or opera io..of the unit in wrong rotation whi!c installing

mtor lea"s.To ass're that the Io"kirg nuts are properly applied, we are expand!no the inst2 I I a-: Ion/esse-."!y

ins if u tions to clarify this op rati"n.In addition, we are also investigating

oiher metho"s of positively

lockirg the n.-s to the s!.i-: to preven loos ning, L e anticip.te thai his m.thod will De finalize in time to"e i~p Iemented on the present contract.On the units in the',.'-IC it is accep.able

to tack weld the two nt ts tcge-,he a~e~i'hey are pro.-.e.-Jy

instaile"'.

Proper installation

should be fo torque the ja-..nut into pla"e then whi!e holding the jam nut to pre;ant rotation tc"qua the cap".t in o place.'I'fe apol"=i-=',or such a la.e response but as indicated aBove, we were un-aware n!a.-y serious problems prior to your letter.I f theP-"e any qu t ions, please fee I frcc to conta" t thi", of f i cn or our Hart for"~ranch of i i..".C/2 C/2 r'e Com)ust I on Eng i neer I ng Attn: lf.C.Stnndin R.J.Landrigas I-R llartford, C.Bricklcy (I)n n riant 0 h A~n (I)Very 1ruly your I tiGERSOLL-Rh:<D

CO'Ipi'.'!

(~~/P7: 'c~/tt.f.De.'tnrdo Camcron Iluclear Pun'ion

l~4 CC>>PYEBASCO SERVlCES.Its'Ol>OL+TCO February 3, 1976 SL-2-76-5w

File: HY-4 R.P4 p.s L-'/To?fr C S Kent Engineerirg

Pro)ect Hnnager Florida Power 6 Light Company P 0 Box 013100%hami, Florida 33101 ggcgLW vps tA gs l~1 o)1',li~<gt>t~~C uc'~<l..~~gi',t&aL.

Dear~fr Kent: ST LUCRE PLPZiT 1979-890 llil (c)E'T25ION-Uil?T NO.2 CO.'O'All~i".i.SPiXKY PZfPS Re: 'r.u".'-~~'I>~~i pgfi Reference:

PAL Letter FLO-566 dated November 2, 875 Pur uant to your rcauest we have been advised by Ingersoll-Rand (in their letter of January 23, 1976, a copy attached)that as a result of tne mess rcs und=rtak n t'.".e problem of loosenin" of the Impeller nuts and gasket leakage as experienced

on RlB Pumps at Turkey Point Station vill not be repeat D on St Lucie Unit>>o.2 Containment

Spray Pumps.i)Presently I/?is investigating

the use of other a thods to ensure that the I=p'er locknut does not loosen itself.However, as a mini"um the locknuts will be shop-tack velded.ii)aae problem of gaslwt leakage has been resolved by utili" ing nn EPT'0'ing in lieu of a flat fiber vasher between the shaft and shaft sleeve.I/R has also given assurance that any modifications

made in future to improv the d si n of these type of pumps vill also be used in the de-sign o=St Lucic iso.2 Containment

Spray Pumps.

~, Q/Q<')pp C S Kent EBASCO SERVlCES 2 Peb~ry 3 1976 SL-2-76-54

We ho the above info~tfon gill answer all your questions.

Should e ope brua 20 1976.y ou desire any further clarfficatfon

please advise by Fe ruary Very truly yours, P J Sgeeney, Jr Chief Hechanical-Huclear

Enginerr Attachment

XH:lh cc: 4 H Rogers, Jx (2)B Z Ynrfg C B Icos A D Schmidt H D 1!ant" K H Harris 0 El Gray P.A D Loren=o J F.Vessely G Crogell L Borchardt L Vsa~fris D J Stephens J C P~~ondo J D Di"tel G N Leamon T 0 Hathisen Supervising

Engineer~y!J PPt