ML20100K974

Part 21 Rept Re Malfunction in X-SAM Safety Sys Supplied Per Topical Rept on Nuclear safety-related Crane Being Installed in England.Air Pressure Being Used to Release Brake Abnormally Low Due to Valve Malfunction

ML20100K974
Person / Time
Site:	Point Beach, Duane Arnold, 05000000
Issue date:	04/12/1985
From:	Clark C EDERER, INC.
To:	Zech G NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE)
References
REF-PT21-85, REF-PT21-85-211-000 PT21-85-211, PT21-85-211-000, NUDOCS 8504160323
Download: ML20100K974 (3)

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EDERER IE mili INCORPORATED EllIRASHIONETON w CRANES April 12,1985 Director, Office of Inspection and Enforcement Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555 Attention: Mr. Gary Zech i

Subject:

Generic Licensing Topical Report EDR-l (P)-A Ederer's Nuclear Safety Related extra-Safety And Monitoring (X-SAM) Cranes, Reporting of a Hardware Defect in Accordance with 10CFR21

Dear Mr. Zech:

The purpose of this letter is to confirm our telephone conversation of April 9,1985. In that call I informed you of a report from our licensee of X-SAM Cranes in England of a malfunction in an X-SAM safety system that we had supplied in accordance with the subject topical report for use on a nuclear safety related crane being installed in England. As is indicated below it is not clear that this malfunction is in fact reportable within the requirements of 10CFR21. However, irregardless we consider it important enough to warrant informing you.

The hardware involved is the totally mechanical failure detection system and emergency drum broke actuator that is described in Appendix G of EDR-

1. The purpose of this equipment is to provide single-failure-proof hoist machinery by detecting a failure of the hoists drive train and setting the emergency drum brake, stopping further downward motion of the load.

According to the report, which we received from England by Telex on April I,1985, the hardware was being tested in a laboratory to verify that the the drum broke actuator would function properly. During the testing the air pressure 4

being used to release the broke was abnormally low as a result of a malfunctioning am valve in the laboratory test equipment. After the unit had been reset with this N,@@

. abnormally low air pressure, the actuator would not permit the drum broke to

• o set following a simulated drive train failure. Had a drive train failure occurred Pnh during service with the brake in this condition, the load would not have been

'o stopped with the potential for damage to either a critical load or safety related equipment located below the load, h in service air pressure is provided by an air flask. This system has not been y considered to be safety related, since its only purpose was to provide the energy om to release the broke af ter it had been set following a failure signal. Since the f@m report we have attempted to duplicate the malfunction with similar hardware and have been unable to duplicate the problem reported by our licensee.

On April 2,1985, our nuclear crane licensing consultant, (Robert W. Holloran) contacted the NRC Auxiliary System Branch Chief (J. Wernil), who had been g (t responsible for review of the most recent revision to EDR-l. At that time Mr. Vi I

e g 2925 FIRST AVENUE SOUTH, BOX 24708. SEATTLE, WA 98124 (206) 622-4421

• TWX: 910 -444-2211

F-EEDERER CRANES Director, Office of Inspection and Enforcement Nuclear Regulatory Commission Q 10CFR2l Report April 12,1985 Page 2 of 3 Wernil was informed that only one crane equipped with this particular type of failure detection system and emergency drum broke actuator had been installed in this country, the Fuel Building Crane for Duane Arnold Unit 1. On the same day the engineer responsible for that crane at lowa Electric (Mr. Mark Murphy) was informed by Mr. Holloran of the report from England, along with the fact that the NRC had been informed. Mr. Wernil requested that you also be informed of the problem. You were not in your office when Mr. Holloran attempted to contact you that day. I fina!!y was able to contact you by telephone on April 9,I985.

The Duane Arnold crane was successfully tested in accordance with the requirements of EDR-l. However, since the testing was performed with normal air pressure levels, it is not known whether it would have exhibited the same malfunction after being reset with abnormally low air pressure.

Although we have not been able to duplicate the problem, we have identified a design detail, i.e., a corner that was not required to be broken per the drawing, which conceiveably may have contributed to the reported problem in England.

Therefore, we have requested that our licensee modify the part in the malfunction-ing hardware to determine whether this will eliminate the problem.

This design change is being incorporated in hardware currently in fabrication for export. In addition, we have modified our shop test procedure to include a test with abnormally low air pressure. After confirmation from England that changing the design detail eliminates the malfunction, we will issue instructions for use by Iowa Electric to modify and retest the actuator installed in the Duane Arnold Fuel Building Crane. In addition, we will incorporate the same changes in the hardware and test procedure for the replacement trolley for the Wisconsin Electric Point Beach Auxiliary Building Crane, which is currently scheduled for installation this summer. On April 2,1985, Mr. Holloran informed the engineer responsible for that crane at Wisconsin Electric (Mr. Bruce Sasmann) of the report from England, along with the fact that the NRC had been informed.

We will inform you of the results of our licensee's testing of the modified hardware and any additional actions determined to be necessary to correct the problem. Currently we expect these modifications and tests to be completed in England within the next two weeks. However, please recognize that we have no control over their schedule.

Sincerely, EDERERINCORPORATED C. W. Clark, Jr.

Vice President of Engineering

EEDERER CRANES Director, Office of Inspection and Enforcement Nuclear Regulatory Commission 10CFR21 Report April 12,1985 Page 3 of 3 Copy to:

lowa Electric, Mr. Mark Murphy Wisconsin Electric, Mr. Roger Newton Mr. Robert W. Holloran, Suite 102,205108th Ave. N.E., Bellevue, WA 98004 l

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