Information Notice No. 85-64: BBC Brown Boveri Low-voltage K-line Circuit Breakers, with Deficient Overcurrent Trip Devices Models OD-4 and 5

                                                            SSINS No. 6835 
                                                             IN 85-64      

                                UNITED STATES
                        NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
                    OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT
                           WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555

                                July 26, 1985

Information Notice No. 85-64:   BBC BROWN BOVERI LOW-VOLTAGE K-LINE 
                                   CIRCUIT BREAKERS, WITH DEFICIENT 
                                   OVERCURRENT TRIP DEVICES MODELS OD-4 AND 
                                   5 

Addressees: 

All nuclear power reactor facilities holding an operating license (OL) or a 
construction permit (CP). 

Purpose: 

This information notice is to alert licensees that BBC Brown Boveri 
low-voltage K-line circuit breakers with overcurrent trip device models OD-4
and OD-5 may have been manufactured with an incorrect short time delay band 
lever (link). It is expected that licensees will review the information for 
applicability to their facilities and consider actions, if appropriate, to 
preclude the use of the defective overcurrent trip devices. However, 
suggestions contained in this information notice do not constitute NRC 
requirements; therefore, no specific action or written response is required.

Description of Circumstances: 

On May 13, 19851 BBC Brown Boveri Inc. (BBC) made a 10 CFR Part 21 report to
the NRC concerning a deficiency in the Models OD-4 and OD-5 overcurrent trip
devices installed on K-line circuit breakers. The affected breakers were 
manufactured by BBC from October 1983 to March 1985 and may have incorrect 
short time delay band levers (links) installed in electromechanical 
overcurrent trip device models OD-4 and OD-5. The incorrect link could limit
the travel of the short time armature and cause the short time element to be
inoperative in the maximum (MAX) band. 

Discussion: 

The May 13, 1985, 10 CFR Part 21 report from BBC recommended that all K-line
circuit, breakers with the OD-4 and OD-5 overcurrent trip devices and any 
spare OD-4 and OD-5 overcurrent trip devices that were manufactured between 
October 1983 and March 1985, be inspected for an incorrect short time delay 




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                                                             July 26, 1985 
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band link. Licensees known by BBC to have purchased K-line breakers or spare
OD-4 or OD-5 overcurrent trip devices were notified of the possible defect 
and instructions provided for their inspection. Enclosed is a list of 
utilities and related facilities that were notified by BBC. However, BBC 
advised the NRC that there is a possibility that other utilities could be 
using K-line circuit breakers with the suspect OD-4 and OD-5 overcurrent 
trip devices. Therefore, all licensees are being notified of this possible 
defect. 

For facilities not on the list and using BBC K-line circuit breaker; with 
OD-4 and OD-5 overcurrent trip devices that were purchased between October 
1983 and March 1985, it is suggested that BBC Brown Boveri Switchgear 
Products Group be contacted for information on performing the inspections 
and corrective action. 

No specific action or written response is required by this notice. If you 
have any questions regarding this notice, please contact the Regional 
Administrator of the appropriate NRC regional office or this office. 


                                   Edward L. Jordan Director 
                                   Division of Emergency Preparedness 
                                     and Engineering Response 
                                   Office of Inspection and Enforcement 

Technical Contact:  L. B. Parker, IE
                    (301) 492-7190


Enclosures:
1.   Utilities/Facilities Notified by BBC Brown Boveri
2.   List of Recently Issued IE Information Notices
.

                                                             Attachment 1 
                                                             IN 85-64     
                                                             July 26, 1985 
                                                             Page 1 of 1  

Utilities/Facilities Notified by BBC Brown Boveri

1.   Public Service of New Hampshire/Seabrook

2.   Philadelphia Electric/Peach Bottom

3.   Niagara Mohawk/Nine Mile Point 2

4.   Duquesne Light/Beaver Valley

5.   Cleveland Electric Illuminating/Perry

6.   Gulf States Utilities/River Bend

7.   Carolina Power and Light/Brunswick

8.   Virginia Electric Power/Surry

9.   Florida Power and Light/St. Lucie

10.  Arkansas Power & Light/Arkansas Nuclear One

11.  Georgia Power/Vogtle

12.  Commonwealth Edison/no plant identified

13.  Long Island Lighting/no plant identified

14.  Kansas City Power & Light/no plant identified

15.  Florida Power Corporation/no plant identified