ML19209B131

Forwards CPC 790823 Final Rept Re Station Battery Qualification Test Failure

ML19209B131
Person / Time
Site:	Midland
Issue date:	08/28/1979
From:	Gibbs M ISHAM, LINCOLN & BEALE
To:	Cowan F, Linenberger G, Smith I AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED, Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel
References
NUDOCS 7910090210
Download: ML19209B131 (1)

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Ivan W. Smith, Esq. Mr. Gustave A. Linenberger Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Atomic Safety and Licensing Ed. Panel U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Conmission U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Cemission Washington, D.C. 20555 Washington, D.C. 20555 Dr. Frederick P. Cowan Apt. 3-125 6152 North Verde Trail Boca Raton, Florida 33433 -

Re: Consumers Power Company (Midland Plant, Unit.s 1 and 2)

Docket Nos. 50-329, 50-330 Gentlemen:

Enclosed are two $50.55 (e) report.s which have recently been submitted by Consumers Power Company to the Nuclear Regulatory Commis-sion.

Very truly yours, i iY/1 \ g Martha E. Gibbs M.EG bc cc: Service List Encicsures 910090 A/O W '

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• W Glen Ellyn, IL 60137 MIDI,uTD NUCLEAR PLA?C UNIT NO 1, ECCKE"' NO 50-329 UNIT NO 2, DOCKET No 50-330 CTATION IA M_ QUALIFICATION TEST FAILURI

Reference:

S E Ecvell letter to J G Keppler; Midised Nuclear _ Plant; Unit No 1, Docket No 50-329; Unit No 2, Docket no 50-330;

.Cecponent qualification Test Docu=entation Re-Review; Serial Howe-252-78, dated Nove=ber 28, 1979 An oral 50 55(e) report was =ade to your office on August 1,1979 concern 1=g a qualification test failure of Midland's Station Batteries. Exide Industrial Battery Division, the supplier of the batteries, has =ade a 10 CFR Part 21 report c= the subject batteries.

This letter,' and its enclosure, is our final report. It is our evaluatics that the fcilure =cde experienced during the accelerated aging test is one that veuld be detectable during the pla=t operational phase prior to any significant degradation of the batteries or loss of ability to =cet functional -

requirenects. The supplier is i=ple=enting part corrective action to ~

eliminate the design discrepancy. The status of qualification of the Station Eatteries is included in the above-referenced 50 55(e) report en Cc:ponent .

Qualification Test Docunen:ction Re-Reviev. The status of the Station Batterie: vill be u;deted via subsequent 50 55(e) reporte en Cc=penen:

Qualificaticn.

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Enclosure:

Bechtel Pcuer Carperstica letter to CFCo, Status Repc.M en Exide 10 C7R 21 Report, E;A-79-111, dated August 15, 1979 p p y3 / .

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CC: Director of office of Inspecticn and Inforcement A :: !.tr victor Stello, US:mC (15)

Director of Office of Manager.ent Infor=ation and Prog:sm Control, USISO (1)

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PLCastleberry, Bechtel AA .

JLCorley, Midland LADreisbach, Sechteldiidland -- - -

GSKeeley, P14 kOS3 B'4Marguglio, J C-220A PAMartinen, Bechtel AA DE141'er, Midland JEievgen, 3echte14tidland JAPastor, P14 ho3 MJSchaeffer, Midland MEGibbs, IL&B ,

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uum ir p.o a:x 'cco. Ann Arcor,Mich*gan 43:05 August 15, 1979 Consu=ers Power Co=pany Mr. W. R. Bird 1945 West Parnall Poad Jackson, Michigan 49201 Midland Plant - Job 7220 Consuners Power Company Status Recort on E::ide 10 CFR 21 Report - 7220-E-12AC File: 9507

Dear Mr. Bird:

Attached is a status report on the Exide 10 CFR 21 Report issued July 31, 1979.

Project Engineering will follow up on the action as outlined in the report. Unless there are major deviations frc= the actions outlined no further reports wi31 be =ade and control will be maintained by standard project procedures.

If there are any questions, please contact =c.

W W. G. Moring WCi/kb

• HQA-79-111 Response: Ne ec: Mr. Bau=an Mr. Millar Mr. Marguglio Attachnent 1112 245

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t SUBJEC : Enide Industrial Battery Division 10 CFR 21 Report - 7220-E-12 AC DATE: At: gust 14, 1979 PROJECT: Consu=ers Power Cocpany

- Midland Plant Units 1 & 2 Bechtel Job 7220

Introduction:

This is a status report covering activities and schedules developed .

in response to the 10 CFR 21 Report issued July 31, 1979, by Exide Industrial 3.a.i.ery Division. -

Descrintion of Discrecanev:

On July 31, 1979, Exide advised that th.re was a potential proble=

with batteries shipped to the Midland 1 & 2 jobsite, which could be reportable under 10 CFR 21. Qualification testing to IEEE 323-1974 had shown a low voltage condition after 32 days of high te=peratura (160 F) artificial aging. Exide aborted the test so they cannot provide 5 years qualification by the end of August,.1979, or 20 years qualifica-tien by January, 1980. . The deficiency was reported to the NRC.

Probable Cause:

During the qualification to IEEE 323-1974 of the "G'j" series of batteries, a low voltage condition was indicated on sc=e of the test cells af ter 32 days of high te=perature (160 F) artificial aging.

An internal examination by Exide of the involved cells indicated that the failure was =ost likely caused by a caterial resistance path across the top of the plate separators, between the hanging lug of one plate to the conducting lug of the opposite polarity plate.

Corrective Actio: r The Exide design staff has deter =ined the corrective action necessary and has instituted a minor design change. Pro' duction of the new design is scheduled to begin by September 1, 1979. The changes are internal to the cells so there vill be no changes in the Exide outline drawing, or rack layouts affecting the battery installations in any way.

New test cells are planned to be availab c by the end of Septe=ber,1979, which should enable Exide to provide us with 5 years qualification by March,1980, and 20 years qualification by September,1980.

Exide reassures us that under the quarterly individual cell voltage readings taken in accordance with IEEE 450-1975 any field proble=s would be detected at an early stage.

The batteries as hstalled have an expected life of 3.2 years based on the portion e2 the test cc=pleted. In order to =eet specif-ication require:ents the batteries will be replaced with the redesigned batteries. Based on the schedule provided by Exide, qualified batteries vill be available for replacement prior to fuel load. The use cf the present batteries is satisf actory for the pre-operational test pro-g:;an.

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f g Dcide Industrial Battery Division 10 CFF. 21 Report August 14, 1979 Page 2 Safety I=clication:

There is no saf ety implication involved as the probles was discovered during a qualification test specifically intended to det-ermine the life of the equipment.

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