ML20096B832

Testimony of RM Bucci & Ej Pagan in Response to Eddleman Contention 9D Re Instrument Cables.Related Correspondence

ML20096B832
Person / Time
Site:	Harris
Issue date:	08/31/1984
From:	Bucci R, Pagan E CAROLINA POWER & LIGHT CO., EBASCO SERVICES, INC.
To:
Shared Package
ML20096B797	List: ML20096B794 ML20096B803 ML20096B809 ML20096B820 ML20096B828 ML20096B832 ML20096B841 ML20096B854 ML20096B860
References
OL, NUDOCS 8409040368
Download: ML20096B832 (12)

Text

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August'31, 1984 CCCKETED USNRC UNITED STATES'OF AMERICA NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSTMN SEP -4 A11 :15 Before the Atomic Safety and Licend5EhE5SErd /

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In the Matter of )

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CAROLINA POWER & LIGHT COMPANY ) Docket No. 50-400 OL and NORTH CAROLINA EASTERN )

MUNICIPAL ~ POWER AGENCY )

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(Shearon Harris Nuclear Power )

Plant) )

APPLICANTS' TESTIMONY OF RICHARD M. BUCCI AND EDWIN J. PAGAN IN RESPONSE TO I EDDLEMAN CONTENTION 9D (INSTRUMENT CABLES)

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Q.1; Please state your names.

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[ Ail- Richard M'. Bucci and Edwin J. Pagan.

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~ Q.2 Mr. Bucci,Jplease state your address, present occupa-tion andiemployer.

A.2 ~(RMB). I am employed as an Associate Consulting Engi-

-neer in'the Corporate and Consulting Engineering Department of Ebasco Services Incorporated, 2 World Trade Center, New York, New, York 10048.

Q.3 State your educational background and professional work experience.

A.3 (RMB) I was graduated from Pratt Institute in 1972 with a Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical) degree, and as a member of the Tau Beta Pi and Eta Kappa Nu Engineering Honor I- Societies. I attended the University of Illinois Graduate School of Electrical Engineering in Urbana-Champaign as a Re-search Assistant from 1972 through 1973, and joined Ebasco Ser-vices Incorporated in early 1974. My initial responsibilities at Ebasco included assignments as an electrical engineer on several Ebasco projects. These assignments included system and

physical design, preparation of equipment specifications, elec-trical one-line diagrams, equipment economic and technical evaluations and review of nuclear equipment qualification pro-grams.

In 1976 I was assigned to the Shearon Harris Project for which my responsibilities included the above functions, as well as preparation of electrical sections of the FSAR, 1

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monitoring of vendor supplied information, and engineering sup-port of construction activities. I was Ebasco's Lead Electri-cal Engineer for the Shearon Harris Project from 1979 to 1983, and was responeible for all electrical engineering and design activities performed by Ebasco on this project. One of these activities was the implementation of the environmental qualifi-cation program for all electrical equipment.

In 1983 I became the Section Leader for nuclear ser-vices in the Corporate and Consulting Electrical Engineering Department at Ebasco. My responsibilities include managing nu-clear consulting services for electrical systems and equipment, and development of corporate programs, guidance and positions on nuclear plant electrical systems. I am also Ebasco's Corpo-race Equipment Qualification (EQ) Program Manager, responsible for development and implementation of Ebasco's EQ Program. I head a multi-disciplined EQ Program. Committee which oversees and develops guidance for EQ efforts on all Ebasco nuclear projects.

I am a registered Professional Engineer in the state of New York and a member of IEEE (Power Engineering Society) and the American Nuclear Society (ANS). I have authored a paper entitled " Developing and Maintaining Equipment Qualifica-tion Programs: A Computer-Aided Approach," which I presented at the 1983 ANS Winter Meeting.

Q.4 Mr. Pagan, please state your address, present occupa-tion and employer.

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m A.4 '(EJP) I .am employed by Ebasco Services Incorporated as a Senior Electrical Engineer. My business address is 2 World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048.

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Q.5 State your educational background and professional-work experience.

A.5 (EJP) I received a Bachelor of Engineering (Electri-cal) degree.from the City University of New York in 1978. I joined Ebasco in March 1981 as an Electrical Engineer on the Shearon Harris Nuclear Project. I am currently the Equipment Qualification Task Leader for SENPP. My responsibilities in-clude. developing and implementing the EQ program and su-pervising the' work of the EQ group, which consists of nine multi-disciplined engineers for non-NSSS equipment. I have re-viewed and checked various EQ test reports and performed execu-

tive reviews (final checks) of most documentation packages. I have also trained engineers to review test reports, written L FSAR qualification sections, provided responses to NRC EQ ques-l tions and interfaced with CP&L on all EQ related matters. In 1983 I spent four and one-half months at the SHNPP site to as-l aist in evaluating the qualification of the NSSS vendor supplied. Class lE equipment. .At Ebasco I have also had overall engineering resposibility for all plant cables, electrical con-

- tainment penetrations, DC systems, and uninterruptible power supplies. Responsibilities included specifying, purchasing, performing calculations, reviewing plant layout and vendor drawings, and resolving field problems.

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Prior to' March 11981,.I was employed by the Consoli-Edate'd Edison Company of New York (" Con Ed"). 'Two years were q

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spent :in Quality Assurance ;("QA") performing audits, surveys-and inspections of' Class'1E equipment manufacturers' QA pro-grams tx) determine-compliance with 10 C.F.R. 50' Appendix B. In addition,.I witnessed' testing and manufacturing of Class 1E equipment. Other QA. responsibilities included' field verifica-tion'of equipment 1and pipe walkdowns at Indian Point Unit 2.

At Con Ed.I;also spent seven years-in the Electrical Engi-neering Group. FourJof those. years required performing engi-neering tasks associated with. Indian Point Units 2 and 3. The remaining-three years required performing engineering tasks as-sociated with high voltage substations. My engineering responsibilities at Con Ed were similar to those at Ebasco, with the addition of writing construction specifications, power plant instruction manuals and lighting standards. I also spent two years in' Con Ed's Estimating Group,.where I estimated the costs.(labor and material) of various projects.

Q.6- What.is the purpose of this testimony?

-A.6 (RMB, EJP) The purpose of this testimony is to re-

.spond to Eddleman Contention 9D, which states:

The qualification of instrument cables did not include adequate consideration and analysis of leakage currents resulting from the radiation environment. These leakage currents could cause. degradation of sicaal quality and/or spurious signals in Ha ris instrument' cables.

Q.7 How is your testimony organized?

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.A.71 (RMB, EJP) First; we describ'e instrument. cables and their safety functions. Second, we. describe how instrument ca-bles are environmentally qualified'for.use at SHNPP. Finally, we explain how qualification of the cables assures that leakage currents due to radiation willinot_cause degradation of. signal- ,

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quality or spurious signals in.a way which would impair the l{

safety functions of the cables.

Q.8 What-is an instrument cable?

A.8 (RMB,-EJP) An instrument cable, in its simplest form, is an electrical cable constructed of a' conductor, insu-lation, shield, drain wire, and overall jacket. More complex )

constructions include various multiples of these basic compo-nents. Instrument cables are designed to conduct low power electrical signals.

Q.9 What safety functions are performed by instrument ca-bles in a nuclear power plant?

A.9 (RMB, EJP) During normal operation, instrument ca-bles are used to conduct electrical signals containing informa-tion about plant operating conditions, such as reactor <oolant system pressure, reactor coolant system temperature, and con-

.tainment radiation levels. These signals are transmitted from measuring instruments throughout.tha plant to indicating and control devices in the control room and other locations. In the' event of an accident, instrument cables transmit the pro-tective action signals required to achieve safe plant shutdown, to mitigatelthe consequences of the accident, and to monitor plant conditions during and after the. accident.

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3 Q.'101-What kinds of' instrument. cables.are used at SHNPP?

A.10 -(RMB, EJP) There are several thousand circuits utilizing instrument cables in the SHNPP design. The instru-ment cables used are of various types, and have been purchased from several different vendors. The types of instrument cable Lused at SHNPP are included on'the list of electrical equipment L

in FSAR Table 3.11.0-2 (Applicants' Exhibit __).

Q.11 Where are these cables' located in the plant, and to what environmental conditions will they be exposed?

A.11 (RMB, EJP) Instrument cables are located throughout the plant. Because most instrument cables'are routed through more than one plant area, these cables will be exposed to a va-riety of environmental conditions. For example, many cables are routed from instruments inside the containment to indica-

! tors in the control room.

Q.12 Please describe how instrument cables at SHHPP were qualified for the environmental conditions to which they could be subjected.

A.12 (RMB, EJP) Instrument cables at SHNPP required to be environmentally qualified by 10 C.F.R. $ 50.49 were quali-fled by test. The test methodology employed is the one set forth in IEEE 383-1974, "IEEE Standard for Type Tests of Class lE Electric Cables, Field Splices, and Connections for Nuclear Power Generating Stations" (1974). IEEE 383-1974 is endorsed  !

by NRC Regulatory Guide 1.131, " Qualification Tests of Electric Cables, Field Splices, and Connections for Light-Water-Cooled Nuclear Poder Plants" (August 1977).

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, .... . :: s .A In the-tests,-instrument cables were subjected to thermal aging, radiation,.and other design basis. accident con-y- .. .

.ditions-(as applicable). Each type of instrument cable-used at

SHNPP was(qualified for its worst case location, i.e., for the most severe-environmental. conditions that any part of a cable of i that type could experience.

In addition, during testing the SHNPP instrument ca-bles were exposed.to substantially higher radiation doses than the most severe doses to which they actually could be exposed i under normal- and accident conditions. For example, a' sample of Samual' Moore thermocouple wire, which is used in the SENPP con-tainment, was. irradiated during testing.with a total dose of .  ;

0 2 x 10 rads. According to conservative radiation calcu-lations, the maximum normal plus accident dose which this instrument cable could receive at SHNPP is 5 x 10 7 rads, one fourth of the dose which the cable sample received during testing.

Following the tests described above, the instrument cables were required to pass a voltage withstand test, which subjected the cables-to additional electrical and mechanical stresses beyond.those they will experience in service. The voltage withstand test indicated that margin still existed in

.the integrity of the insulation after qualification testing.

Q.13 What are leakage currents?

A.13- (RMB, EJP) Leakage current is that portion of an electrical signal carried by a cable whi,ch is conducted through the-insulation to ground.

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t Q.14L What'.is; insulation resistan'e? c A.14 '( RMB , EJP )' -Insulation resistance is the resistance of the cable insulation'to the. flow of leakage current.

Q.15 ldaat<is the relationship between leakage current and

-insulation resistance?

A.15 (RMB, EJP) Leakage current and insulation resis-tance.are inversely proportional. 'That is, as insulation re-

- sistance decreases, leakage current-increases (provided voltage remains constant). This relationship is described by Ohm's Law,.which is a fundamental concept in electrical engineering.

Q.16 What'causes leakage currents in instrument cables?

A.16 (RMB,_EJP) Leakage currents occur when insulation

resistance is too low, for example, when organic cable insula-tion has degraded as a result of environmental stresses.

Q.17 What are the safety implications of leakage currents

' in instrument cables for nuclear power plants?

A.17 (RMB, EJP) Depending on the sensitivity.of.the par-

. ticular. instrument to which the cable is connected, a leakage current could affect the accuracy of transmitted information.

If tJun instrument is safety-related, plant safety' could be im-paired.

Q.18 Was leakage current or insulation resistance mea-

sured-during qualification testing of instrument cables used at SHNPP?

A.18 (RMB, EJP) Yes. Leakage current is sensed by a measurement device and converted by the device to an insulation l

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-resistance value, which is: recorded. Lefs;ageLcurrent values' are not recorded because such-values, to be meaningful, depend onfcircuit parameters such as cable length, operating voltage, instrument accuraciesland~ resistances, and-other resistive sources:(e.g.,_ connectors), which vary'from circuit'to circuit.

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Since-insulation resistance is an inherent property of the in-sulation material, it can be expressed.as a constant value.(in

per unit length). 'These' insulation resistance values can then be used to; analyze.the.possible effects of-leakage currents on instrument circuit accuracy.

Q.19- How frequently.was insulation resistance measured-l during the qualification testing of SENPP instrument cables?

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, A.19 (RBM,-EJP) At a minimum, insulation resistance'was measured prior to. testing, after irradiation,_and at frequent-intervals during the remainder of the design basis accident testing (e.g., pressure, temperature, humidity, chemical spray).

Q.20 .(RBM, EJP) Why was insulation resistance not mea-sured during radiation testing?

A.20 (RBM, EJP) Changes in such conditions as pressure, temperature'and humidity can affect insulation material in a way which'causes fluctuations in insulation resistance during-

- . testing. Radiation, however, causes cumulative change in or-ganic cable insulation material. This cumulative change does not result in fluctuations in insulation resistance during testing. Therefore, there is no reasonEto measure insulation

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.- I resistance during radiation testing. Insulation. resistance measurements made before testing and after irradiation ade-quately account for any' changes in insulation resistance which

'could affect the accuracy of electrical signals.

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Q.21' Does irradiation of instrument cable during.qualifi-cation testing result in-significant decrease in insulation re-sistance?

A.21 (RMS,-EJP) No. For example, in one Samuel Moore thermocouple wire test sample, the insulation resistance before irradiation was 8.75 x 10 10 ohms.per 1000 ft. The insula-10 tion resistance after irradiation was 1.75 x 10 ohms per 1000 ft. This value was almost an order of magnitude higher than the minimum allowable insulation resistance for new cable of this type (3.4 x 10 9 ohms per.1000 ft.) according to In-sulated Cable Engineers Association Standard S-68-516, " Ethyl-ene Propylene Rubber Insulated Wire and Cable for the Transmis-sion and Distribution of Electrical Energy" (1976). Insulation resistance values of these magnitudes indicate negligible leak-age currents in the circuit.

Q.22 Have the possible effects of leakage currents on instument circuit accuracy been analyzed for SHNPP instrument cables?

A.22 (RMB, EJP) Ebasco has reviewed insulation resis-tance values following irradiation for each type of instrument cable used at SENPP. As discussed above, the potential effects of irradiation on insula ion resistance (and therefore leakage currents) are negligible for the'SENPP instrument cables.

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In. addition,-Ebasco currently-is performing insula--

tion resistance calculations which will consider,1along_with the appropriate circuit parameters, the' insulation resistance-

.. measurements taken during_the entire qualification test se- z

. .quence.

The results of the-calculations must:showLthat~the quality!of the instrument signals will not degrade-to a point

._where'the instrument.may not be capable of performing its safe-ty function. These results will:be' documented in the individ-

- ual instrument cable qualification packages.

Q.23 Mr..Bucci~and Mr. Pagan, in your opinions _ does_the- -

environmental ~ qualification of instrument cables at SENPP "in- ,

clude adequate: consideration and' analysis of_ leakage currents

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- resulting from the radiation environment"?.

A.23 (RMB, EJP) Yes. Environmental qualification.

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testing.was conducted according to the applicable-standards.

Insulation resistance measurements'were taken on aged and irra-diated test samples. These insulation resistance values have been reviewed:to ensure there will be no adverse'effect on the safety functions performed by SHNPP instrument cables-as a re -

-sulttof leakage currents caused by radiation.

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