ML18283B409

LER 1978-004-00 for Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant, Unit 3, Three of Five Test Specimens Failed During Simulated LOCA Conditions & During Qualification Testing of Bendix Electrical Connectors Identical to Those Used in Primary Containment

ML18283B409
Person / Time
Site:	Browns Ferry
Issue date:	03/28/1978
From:	Fox H Tennessee Valley Authority
To:	O'Reilly J NRC/IE, NRC/RGN-II
References
LER 1978-004-00
Download: ML18283B409 (8)

Text

' dgt o4g REGULATORY INFORMATION DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM (RIDS)

DISTRIBUTION FQR INCOMING MATERIAL 50-296 P REC: OREILLY J P ORG: FOX H S DOCDATE 03/28/78 NRC TN VALLEY AUTH DATE RCVD: 04/03l78 DOCTYPE: LETTER NOTARIZED: NO COPIES RECEIVED

SUBJECT:

LICENSEE EVENT REPT (RO 50-296l78-004) QN 03/i5/78 CONCERNING DURING LTR i ENCL i QUALIFICATION TESTING OF BENDIX ELEC CONNECTORS IDENTICAL TO THOSE USED IN THE PRIMARY CONTAINMENT'HREE OF FIVE TEST SPECIMENS FAILED DURING SIMULATED LOCA CONDITIONS... W/ENCL.

PLANT NAME: BROWIVS FERRY UNIT 3 REVIEWER INITIAL: X JM DISTRIBUTOR INITIAL:

+++w4+++w++++++>+ DISTRIBUTION OF THIS MATERIAL IS AS FOLLOWS 44++w>>+>>>>>+>>++

INCIDENT REPQRTS (DISTRIBUTION CODE A002)

FOR ACTION: BR R+<sW/4 ENCL INTERNAL: REG FILE+4W/ENC NRC PDR++W/ENCL MIPC++W/3 ENCL SCHROEDER/IPPOLI TO+4 W/ENCL HOUSTON++W/ENCL NOVAK/CHECK++W/ENCL GR IMES++W/ENCL KNIGHT<4 W/ENCL BUTLER+4W/ENCL HANAUER~~W/ENCL TEDESCQ++W/ENCL E I SENHUT+4 W/ENCL BAER4+W/ENCL SHAO+4W/ENCL VOLLMER/BUNCH~~W/ENCL KRFGERl J. COLLINS<4 W/ENCL ROSA++W/ENCL K SEYFRIT/IE++W/ENCL EXTERNAL: LPDR S ATHEIVSi AL<4W/ENCL TIC++W/ENCL NS I C~~W/EIVCL ACRS CAT B>4W/16 ENCL COPIES iVOT SUBMITTED PER REGULATORY GUIDE IP,I DISTRIBUTION: LTR 45 ENCL 45 CONTROL NBR: 780950045 SI ZE: iP+2P+iP

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~jco Region IX ~>>c Wl s C 230 Peachtree Str et, NW., Suite 1217 MC Atlanta, Georgia" 30303 foal H CA Dear Nr. O'ReQ.lys TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY - BROGANS PERRY NUCLEAR PLANT UNIT 3, DOCKET NO. 50-296 - PACILITY" OPERATING LICENSE DPR-68 REPORTABLE OCCURRENCE REPORT BPRO'50-296/784 The enclosed report provides detaQ.s concerning three of five test specimens which failed during simulated LOCA conditions and during qualification testing of Bendix electrical connectors identical to those used in the primary containment. This report is submitted in accordance with Brows Perry unit 3 Technical Specification 6.7.2,A.(9).

Very truly yours, TLrNNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY H. S. Fox Director of Pover Production Enclosure cc (Enclosure):

Director (3)

Office of hfanagement Informatio and Program Control U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commfssi n Washington, DC 20555 Director (40)

Office of Inspection and Enforcemen U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washin ton DC 20555 fPg

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~02 During ualification testin of Bendix electrical connectors identical to those used in the primary containment, thy ee o f fice test specimens failed during simulated LOCA conditions'here was no e ffect on the public health or f sa e ty since this was a laboratory test.

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~01 28 ATTACHMENT CODE 29 NPRD.4 TYPE

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~PQIs ~Z Qls ~A Qso ~AQ21 [0 1 4 6 ~Y Q23 ~N Qss ~L Qs; 0 2 0 0 Qso 33 34 35 36 37 40 41 42 43 44 47 CAUSE DESCRIPTION AND CORRECTIVE ACTIONS 27 0 The cause was a design deficiency. Three Bend ' connectors, P/N 10-214036-78 shorted between pins on the unpotted side. The short was caused b the entrY of moisture through the grommet on the rear of the connector. The connectors in the 3 primary containment, app 1 cab 1 e to the i s af e ty sys tems required to be opera t iona 1 0?l

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~ FACILITY h'IETHOD OF STATUS '.4 POWER OTHER STATUS DISCOVERY DISCOVERY DFSCRIPTION 32 CZ3 5 LJO Z 2B 0 9 5 29 N.A. ~C 45 Qsl 46 Doric" s ecio1 test ACTIVITY CONTENT RELEASED OF RELEASE AMOUNT OF ACTIVITY LOCATION OF RELEASE

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7 8 9 10 80 PUBLICITY ISSUFD DESCRIPTION Press release Q on March 16 1978 NRC USE ONLY a ss 0 ~g Q<<

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NAME OF PREPARER PHONE: IL 0

Cause Descri tion and Corrective Actions (Continued) by laboratory test.

JGD:SGS 3/28/78

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BFRO-50-296/784 Report Number BFRO-50-296/784 Report Date  : March 28, 1978 Occurrence Date  : March 15, 1978 Facility Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant Unit 3 Tdentification of Occurrence Three Bendix electrical connectors, P/N 10-214036-78p, failed qualification test:ing at t<yle Laboratories. The test specimens were the same type connectors as those presently used in primary containment.

Conditions Prior to Occurrence Unit at approzimately 95-percent power.

Descri tion of Occurrence Pin-to-pin shorts occurred in connect:ors during simulated LOCA ccndit:ions.

Desi nation of Apparent Cause of Occurrence Moisture ent:ered the rear of t:he connectors through the groranets. This moist:ure, combined with impurities, caused pin-to-pin short:s.

~Anal ala or Occnrranca Test: result:s indicated that: ident:ical connectors used in primary cont:ainment could possibly fail during a LOCA. The unit: was removed from scrvi.ce for correctiv'e action. Since this test was conducted in a laboratory, no effects ezisted upon public health or safety.

Corrective Action a ~

Connectors in primary containment were potted with 3M Scotchcast to provide an adequate seal against moisture, The potted connectors were qualified by a

laboratory test.