ML18052B001

LER 87-010-00:on 870322 & 0426,water Flow Switch Fire Detectors Identified Inoperable.Caused by Eroded Flow Sensing Mechanism.Two Detectors Replaced & Remaining Units Will Be replaced.W/870505 Ltr

ML18052B001
Person / Time
Site:	Palisades
Issue date:	05/05/1987
From:	Johnson B, Kozup C CONSUMERS ENERGY CO. (FORMERLY CONSUMERS POWER CO.)
To:	NRC OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATION & RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (ARM)
References
LER-87-010, LER-87-10, NUDOCS 8705120018
Download: ML18052B001 (4)

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NllCl'orlll- U.I. NUCLIAll lllGULATOllY ~-ION 19-all A-OYED Ollll NO. 31!!0-0ICM EXPllllH: 1131 Ill LICENSEE EVENT REPORT (LER)

FACILITY NAME 111 IDOCKIT --.11121 I p-~R Ill!

PALISADES NUCLEAR PLANT o 15 Io I 0 Io I 21 515 1 loF 0 I 3 TITLE 141 INOPERABLE WATER FLOW SWITCHES ASSOCIATED WITH FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEM IYINT DATI Ill Liii N~lll Ill lllP'OllT DATE 171 OTHEll 'ACILITIU llNOLVID lal fACILITY NAMU DOCKET NUMIElllll N/A oI3 212 s 1 s 11 - o 11 I o - o I o oI5. o I 5 s 11 N/A 01S1D1D1D1 I I ONllATING THll llDOllT 11 IUlllllTTED l'UlllUANT TO THI lllOUlllEMINTI OF 10 C'll §: I~ one or,,,.,,.. of tn. fellowkrf} 1111 N

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- I0.7:1111121101 I0.7Jlal 12111111 LICENIEE CONTACT FOii THll LEll 1121 I0.7111112Jl.aUll91 I0.7Slell211*1 Special Report TELll'HONI NUMIElll AREA CODE CSKozup, Technical Engineer, Palisades 6I 11 6 7 16 I 4 1- 18 I 9 1113 COMPLETE ONE LINE '011 EACH COW'ONENT PAILUlll DEIClllllD IN THll lllP'OllT llJI CAUSE SYSTEM COMPONENT x I I I y I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I IU'l'LEMENTAL lllP'OllT l!Xl'ECTED 11'1 MONTH . DAY l!Xl'ICTID n YES (If l'W. - - fXl'fCTfO StJ*MIS$/ON DATE)

IUIMllllON DATE 11111 I I I AalTllACT 11.imlt ID 14/JO -

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On both March 22 and April 26, 1987, two water flow switch fire detectors were

• identified to be inoperable by Operations personnel. The Plant was in hot shutdown condition on March 22 and at full reactor power on April 26.

The detectors a~e maintained under a static water pressure of 100 psig. When flow is sensed, a alarm is received in the Control Room indicating fire protection system actuation. The flow is initiated when the.fusible link associated with the sprinkler heads melt due to exposure to heat.

New detectors have been installed for detectors WFS-2B and WFS-2G2 which failed on March 22. Detector WFS-2Gl will be replaced by May 8 and WFS-2Bl as soon as parts are available. Due to the nature of failure being associated with.end of service life, all water flow switch fire detectors identified in Technical Specifications are to be replaced.

S7051ADOCK2 0018 870505 05000255 PDR PDR s

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(11-831 LER 87-010

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LICENSEE EVENT REPORT (LERI TEXT CONTINUATION

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FACILITY NAME 111 DOCKET NUMBER IZI . .' . 'LUI NuMIEll 111 -

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Palisades Nuclear Plant

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. TEXT (If - .,_,. -. requltetl, - Ntl/rionel NRC Form .-A '111171

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• .: Description o~*:March 22, 1987, while performing a quarterly tesf**~{).;:'~r"ift~~£fi~~y;~ppre$sion: ;~i'~t~m flow. alarm operability, Operations personnel identif~~4. .t~~e*;i~~¥~r.,'.~'.f~~~ **_switch :;~~+/-~e: <'

detectors WFS-2B_ and WFS-2G2 [KP ;FIS] were inoperable~~ .....Tlie,Jtl~n;,.:~asj-ln .h9t .,shu~~9wn condition (primary coolant system: 2033 psia, s32 d'~sl:e~sY. *w1fell:'.;tli.e:.*"d'E!tectors we're. -

determined to be inoperable. -..~:~~J,,"~~;~;i'.:D. {;~t~t~~:}:;~;~*.;:;i~':'._.-: *__,, :," ~: _, -. :_*;:}T< _

The: detectors are Notifier, model NVR-2BZ and are normall'f-maint:ained *under a stafic -

water pressure of approximately 100 psig. The Fire P*1d;*te_~t~o~;;~$ys~em -(FPS) *associ~'i:e-d with these detectors is actuated by the melting of ~'~fusilfie;~'.linl(:within .the --~p~f~er heads. . When a fusible link releases' it causes the spray head' :pressure to drop ~nd a

. pilot valve to open. Water is then permitted to pass through' :the water flow switch fire detectors which sense the flow and annunciate in the Control Room.

Subsequent to the March 22. detector failures, two additional detectors, WFS-2Gl and WFS-2Bl, were identified to be inoperable during the performance of a Technical Specification Surveillance Test on April 26. On April 26 a.fire watch patrol was initiated within one hour of the inoperable declaration.

Cause of the Event The failure of the water flow switch fire detectors identified above was caused by erosion of the flow sensing mechanism (ie, flapper). This erosion is believed to have been propagated by the detectors being exposed to approximately 100 pounds of static water pressure during their service life. I t is believed 'that these failures resulted due* to the equipment reaching the end of its service life.

• The detectors were

• original Plant installed equipment, which until their failure of ~arch 22 and April

.26, performed their designed function.

Corrective Action Plant Technical Specification 3. 22 .1, Fire Detection Ins.trumentation,, :.requires that when detectors are inoperable, within one hour, establish .a f.ire:'watch patrol to inspect the zones with the inoperable instruments at least once per_ hour until the detector is returned.to service. This fire watch patrol was estab:+ished as specified for the zones governed by the detectors which were dec.lared*:i:D.9p:arabi.e* on-April 26.

However, for the detectors identified to be inoperable*: on MB.r~h'.,22:; ::the fire watch patrol was not initiated until April 20. This failure '.to'*'ill:f:tiate.. th.is fire watch patrol as specified is under investigation and will be det.lii:iled i1La separate Licensee

_Event Report to be submitted by May 20 as required by, .10CFR50~73~--:*" ._*:.

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New detectors have been installed for WFS-2B and WFS-2G2~;*: **A*~::rep1:8:cf!~Ut det.ector for WFS-2Gl is to be installed by May 8. Replacement of WFS...:2Bl:w~ll:~~ l:completed in a

• timely fashion when parts are available. Fire patro:i"watchea** wil!':be maintained until this replacement is complete. Due to the nature of failure ident.ified -for the detectors being associated with end of service life, additional ~etectors ~re being ordered and will be installed upon arrival for the remaining like~*detectors identified in Technical Specifications. .!!~~(<:,,.:,!

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NllC FORM 386A 19

~ER 87-010-NL02

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NRC Farm..,_ U.1. NUCLEAR llEOULATORV COMMISSION C9-(3l LICENSEE EVENT REPORT (LER) TEXT;C::()NTINUATION . APPROVED OMll ND. 3160--0104 EXPIRES: 8/31 /85

'f FACILITV NAME 111 DOCKET NUMaEll 121 LEA NUMBER Cll PAGE C3l J;>alisades Nuclear Plant o 1s 101<1.101~~2(51 5; 817 - 01110 - o Io 013 OF o 13 TEXT f/I , _ - t. tflqllitwJ, - eddltioMI NllC Fonn ,-..**11171 The repla~ement detectors are equipped with a nqn-ferrous flapper and connecting '

mechanism to eliminate the possibility of a similar-failure. '

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Analysis Of The Event -. _ . , ..

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Operability of the fire *detec'tiori_ instrumentation ensures that adequate warning capability is available *:ftjr*- the prompt detection~'of :'£°ires. This capability is requir~.~ in order ~o detect:and l()cate tirer;i ,in:_*'~Q.-~i-~**::*early stages. Prompt detection o:ff :l..res' will reduce 'the' potential' for damage '1:6' 'safety..:related equipment and is an int regal element in the overall facility*' fir~ .protec~ion program.

In the eve~t that a portion of the fire deted:ion instrumentation is inoperable, the establishment of frequent fire patrols in the affected.areas is required to provide detection capability until the inoperable instrumentation is returned to service.

The intent and requirements of Technical Specifications have been met for the April 26 failure, thus, no additional hazard was presented. During the period between March 22 and April 20, no fire watch patrol was maintained, nor were fire detection capabilities maintained for zones associated with detectors WFS-2B and WFS-2G2 (ie, the cable spreading room and the 1-2 diesel generator room). The effects of this lack of detection will be detailed in the separate LER to be submitted by May 20.

NllC FOllM 3118A CH3.l...ER 87-010

• consumers Power POWERING llAICHl&AN'S PROGRESS General Offices: 1945 West Parnell Road, Jackson, Ml 49201 * (51-7) 788-0550 May 5, 1987 Nuclear Regulatory Commission Document Control Desk Washington, DC 20555 DOCKET 50-255 - LICENSE DPR PALISADES PLANT -

LICENSEE EVENT REPORT 87-010 - INOPERABLE WATER FLOW SWITCHES ASSOCIATED WITH THE FIRE DETECTION SYSTEM Licensee Event Report (LER)87-010, (Inoperable Water Flow Switches Associated With The Fire Detection System) is attached. This event is being submitted as a Special Report in accordance with Palisades Technical Specification 3.22.1.

Brian D Johnson Staff Licensing Engineer CC Administrator, Region III, USNRC NRC Resident In$pector - Palisades Attachment OC0587-0056-NL02