ML070180491

Bergen Power Pipe Supports, 10 CFR 21 Notification, Identification Defect, NRC Event No. 43071

ML070180491
Person / Time
Site:	Duane Arnold
Issue date:	01/15/2007
From:	Haynes T Bergen Power Pipe Supports
To:	Document Control Desk, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
NRC Event 43071
Download: ML070180491 (8)

Text

I t I BERGEN POWER PIPE SUPPORTS P.O. Box 461 (724) 379-5212 Donora, PA 15033 (724) 379-9363 Fax January 15, 2007 Document Control Desk US Nuclear Regulatory Agency 11555 Rockville Pike Rockville, MD 20852-2746

Subject:

10 CFR 21 Notification Identification of Defect NRC Event No. 43071 Enclosed is a copy of a 10CFR21 Notification that Bergen Power has received from Fronek A/DE concerning Hydraulic Snubbers filled with GE SF1154 Silicone fluid, Batch AD965. We have determined that units were shipped to four customers. These customers are TVA, Entergy, Eletrobras, and Ergytech.

Enclosed are copies of the notifications that have been sent to our customers.

If we can be of further assistance, please contact us.

Thomas P. Haynes QA Manager e-mail: tomhaynes@bergenpower.com cc: James M. Bonetti President

Fronek AIDE, Inc. A Wholly Owned Subsidiary 86 Doris Ray Court by Piping Technology & Products Laconia, NH 03246 PO Box 34506 Tel: (603) 528-1931 Houston, Texas 77234-4506 Fax: (603) 528-6381 Bergen Power Pipe Supports January 12, 2007 PO Box 461 ( alt. 484 Galiffa Drive)

Donora, PA 15033 Attention: Tom Haynes

Subject:

10 CFR21 Notification, Quality Assurance Mgr. Identification of Defect, NRC Event No. 43071 Pursuant to 10 CFR 21.21 notification requirements, Fronek Anchor Darling Enterprises, Inc (Fronek) hereby informs Bergen Power that we have provided you with Hydraulic Snubbers filled with GE SF1154 Silicone Hydraulic Fluid, Batch AD965 which has been identified as containing a defect as described in NRC Event No. 43071, as filed with the NRC by FPL Duane Arnold Energy Center(DAEC), Palo, IA. The attached document lists the applicable Bergen Power Purchase Orders, Descriptions of the Snubbers and their applicable Fronek assigned Serial Numbers.

To fulfill its obligations under 10 CFR 21.21 (c)(1), Fronek is in the process of completing its evaluation on the effects of snubber performance while using the defective batch of GE SF1154. The gallon sample of fluid we are using in our evaluation testing was returned to us by DAEC (it is one of the two gallons identified in their notice to the NRC). We are very early into our investigation, but in order to facilitate the most rapid circulation of information with regard to the Subject event, we have completed a sufficient number of tests to report the following initial findings.

To reiterate, DAEC, in its initial notification to the NRC, has postulated that the foreign material in the defective fluid could restrict flow through the bleed orifices in a snubber, potentially reducing the flow through the snubber control valve to zero. This may cause the snubber to remain locked following activation. The resulting locked snubber would prevent the function of allowing for some piping movement associated with normal system movement.

In our preliminary snubber performance evaluation, we have witnessed the behavior described in DAEC's postulation above, but its likely possibility seems to be limited to loads applied in extension to our smallest size snubber (an 1-1/2" Bore with a 3 Kip Load Rating). Thus far, we have conducted Performance (Lock-Up &

Bleed) Testing on our two smallest size snubbers (the aforementioned 3 Kip and the 2-1/2" bore 10 Kip) where the control valve bleed orifices are among the smallest (approximately 24 and 16 tests, each in both directions, on the 3 and 10 Kip, respectively). Only the 3 Kip snubber loaded in the extension direction has sporadically (twice) demonstrated the behavior described above (i.e., zero bleed rate) and only if the load remains continuously applied in that direction. After the 3 Kip hasbecome locked in the extension direction, any load reversal, no matter how slight, returns the control valve to its normally open state in the extension direction.

In addition, of the behavior that we have observed thus far, the results are consistent with the fact that Fronek's 3 Kip Extension bleed orifice also happens to be its smallest, having a nominal cross section dimension of 0.005".

By comparison, the dimensions of the orifices in the 3 Kip Compression, 10 Kip Extension and 10 Kip Compression directions are 0.007", 0.006" and 0.009", respectively. We have witnessed only occasional partial blockages in the larger orifices and that the apparent likelihood of those partial blockages becomes even more infrequent as the orifice size increases. One can reasonably expect that the orifices in the larger bore snubbers, which are incrementally larger with increasing bore size, will exhibit further diminished probability of becoming partially blocked from the effects of the defective fluid.

Fronek A/DE, Inc.

To: Bergen Power Pipe Supports January 12, 2007 PO Box 461 (alt. 484 Galiffa Drive)

Donora, PA 15033 We believe that our initial approach to the testing completed thus far has been very conservative, for three primary reasons:

1) The objective in this initial test phase was to overestimate the concentration of the particulate in the test units to obtain results which should reasonably exceed the expected probability of flow blockage in field installations.

The difficulty in quantifying the initial amount of particulate and then measuring the amount introduced into the test units would have unnecessarily delayed this initial test phase. We chose a conservative visual means of introducing the amount of particulate into the test units which we believe to be no less than twice that amount observed in the original sample.

2) At various intervals in the testing sequence, we change the orientation (with respect to gravity) of the test unit. We do so because we have observed that the larger particulate settles to the lowest point in the fluid at a relatively rapid rate (all but the finest particles settle out in approximately 10 to 20 minutes). We flip the unit upside-down from its test orientation and stroke it several times in an effort to keep the majority of the particulate in suspension. We then flip it back and then immediately run the next series of tests.

3) We are also running the bleed portion of the test for a much longer duration (nearly full stroke) than a typical Snubber Performance Test (SPT). In a typical SPT, the bleed portion of the test (conducted post-activation while the snubber remains locked at rated load) requires approximately 5 to 10 seconds. This is normally a sufficient length of time for the bleed rate to reach a steady-state condition. That 5 to 10 seconds equates to moving the snubber through about 1 inch of its stroke. The test data thus far suggests that it would be highly unlikely to detect the presence of the defective fluid during a test having a bleed duration this short. All of the flow blockages observed thus far, either total blockages or partial ones, have not occurred until approximately 2 to 3 inches of stroke have been traversed while at rated load. The nature of these blockages does not provide sufficient evidence which can be used to unequivocally state that the presence of the particulate will never be detected during a typical SPT, but at this point in time, the data indicates that this is the most probable result.

Further, we have found that the fluid particulate, introduced into our test units in the way that it has, has no discernible effect on snubber Drag characteristics, nor has it impacted the snubber's Lock-Up characteristics. At this point in the evaluation, all of the observed behavior leads us to reasonably assert that Fronek snubbers which contain this fluid will remain unaffected with regard to their intended seismic function.

We trust that the above information serves to address the immediate concerns of Bergen Power with regard to snubbers which are filled with this particular batch of SF1154 and that we assume are installed in Nuclear Power Plants subject to the provisions of 10 CFR 21 Reporting. A formal evaluation report will be forthcoming and distributed to all parties involved in accordance with the provisions of 10 CFR 21.21 (d)(4). It will present the above test results and the results from more of our future testing. However, we believe that the best impending test results, i.e., the results that will bear the best information with regard to snubber performance, will be obtained from units that were filled with this batch of fluid sometime ago. Toward that end, we intend to contact anyone who may be able to provide such units, or provide us with field test results obtained from such snubbers, in order for us to conduct the most thorough evaluation possible. If we can be of further assistance, please contact us.

Best Regards, Walter Paszul, PE General / Engineering Manager c: Thorn Wormhood, QA Mgr.

Attachment

Attachment to Bergen Power 10CFR21 Notification Letter, Dated January 12, 2007 Fronek S/O# Qty Description Serial Nos. BP PO No. PO Line No. BP Tag No Ship Date HUN3807 4 70 Kip x 6" Snubber ADH-7003-162 thru -165 #11628 1 7755a 04/17/2002 1 50 Kip x 6" Snubber ADH-5003-475 2 1 20 Kip x 6" Snubber ADH-2003-1560 3 HUN3907 1 50 Kip x 6" Snubber ADH-5001-476 #11659 1 7801a 06/20/2002 4 10 Kip x 6" Snubber ADH-1001-3275 thru -3278 2 HUN3942 3 3 Kip x 6" Snubber ADH-300-2634,-2635 & -2636 #11683 1 7831a 08/28/2002 HUN4144 1 30 Kip x 6" Snubber ADH-3000-900 #11805 1 802dy 08/20/2003

BERGEN POWER PIPE SUPPORTS P.O. Box 461 (724) 379-5212 Donora, PA 15033 (724) 379-9363 Fax January 15, 2007 TVA Nuclear Nuclear Assurance and Licensing 1101 Market Street Chattanooga , TN 37402-2801 Attn: Manager, Operating Experience.

Subject:

10 CFR 21 Notification Identification of Defect NRC Event no. 43071 Enclosed is a copy of a 10CFR21 Notification that Bergen Power has received from Fronek A/DE concerning Hydraulic Snubbers filled with GE SF1154 Silicone fluid, Batch AD965. One (1) 30 Kip Hydraulic Snubber, A/DE serial No. ADH-3000-900 containing this fluid was furnished to your facility on your PO No.

00001630 Release 00098, Item No. 1 in September, 2003 A copy of this notification has been forwarded to the US NRC Ifwe can be of further assistance, please contact us.

Thomas P. Haynes QA Manager e-mail: tomjhaynes@bergenpower.com cc: James M. Bonetti President

BERGEN POWER PIPE SUPPORTS P.O. Box 461 (724) 379-5212 Donora, PA 15033 (724) 379-9363 Fax January 15, 2007 Entergy Nuclear Northeast James A. Fitzpatrick NPP 268 Lake Road Lycoming, NY 13093 Attn: Vice President Operations

Subject:

10 CFR 21 Notification Identification of Defect NRC Event no. 43071 Enclosed is a copy of a I0CFR21 Notification that Bergen Power has received from Fronek A/DE concerning Hydraulic Snubbers filled with GE SF1154 Silicone fluid, Batch AD965. Three (3) 3 Kip Hydraulic Snubbers, A/DE serial No. ADH-300-2634, -2635 & -2636 containing this fluid were furnished to your facility on your PO No. 4500514359, Item No. 1 in September, 2002 A copy of this notification has been forwarded to the US NRC If we can be of further assistance, please contact us.

Thomas P. raynes QA Manager e-mail: tomhaynes@bergenpower.com cc: James M. Bonetti President

BERGEN POWER PIPE SUPPORTS P.O. Box 461 (724) 379-5212 Donora, PA 15033 (724) 379-9363 Fax January 15, 2007 Eletrobras Termonuclear S.A Gerencia de Suprimentos -GSU A Rua da Candelaria no. 65 -90 andar CEP: 20091-020 Rio de Janeiro - RJ Brasil

Subject:

10 CFR 21 Notification Identification of Defect NRC Event no. 43071 Enclosed is a copy of a 10CFR21 Notification that Bergen Power has received from Fronek A/DE concerning Hydraulic Snubbers filled with GE SF1 154 Silicone fluid, Batch AD965. One (3) 50 Kip Hydraulic Snubber, A/DE serial No. ADH-5001-476, and four (4) 10 Kip Hydraulic Snubbers, A/DE serial No. ADH-1001-3275 thru -3278 containing this fluid were furnished to your facility on your PO No. 4500034326, Item No. 1 & 2 in June, 2002 In addition, Four (4) 70 Kip Hydraulic Snubbers, A/DE serial No. ADH-7003-162 thru -165, one (1) 50 Kip Hydraulic Snubber, A/DE serial No. ADH-5003-475, and one (1) 20 Kip Hydraulic Snubber, A/DE serial No. ADH-2003-1560 containing this fluid were furnished to your facility on your PO No. 4500030221, Item No. 1 thru 5 in April, 2002 by way of Ergytech, Inc. on their PO 45030221 to us.

A copy of this notification has been forwarded to the US NRC If we can be of further assistance, please contact us.

Thomas P. Haynes QA Manager e-mail: tom-haynes@bergenpower.com cc: James M. Bonetti President

.6 BERGEN POWER PIPE SUPPORTS P.O. Box 461 (724) 379-5212 Donora, PA 15033 *(724) 379-9363 Fax January 15, 2007 Ergytech, Inc.

2400,Augusta, Suite 310 Houston, TX 77057

Subject:

10 CFR 21 Notification Identification of Defect NRC Event no. 43071 Enclosed is a copy of a 10CFR21 Notification that Bergen Power has received from Fronek A/DE concerning Hydraulic Snubbers filled with GE SF1154 Silicone fluid, Batch AD965. Four (4) 70 Kip Hydraulic Snubbers, A/DE serial No. ADH-7003-162 thru -165, one (1) 50 Kip Hydraulic Snubber, A/DE serial No. ADH-5003-475, and one (1) 20 Kip Hydraulic Snubber, A/DE serial No. ADH-2003-1560 containing this fluid were furnished to Eletrobras Termonuclear on your PO No. 45030221, Item No. 1 thru 5 in April, 2002.

A copy of this notification has been forwarded to the US NRC If we can be of further assistance, please contact us.

Thomas P. Haynes QA Manager e-mail: tom-haynes@bergenpower.com cc: James M. Bonetti President