Part 21 Report - 1996-310
FITZPATRICK 1 30149
03-21-96 POW
LICENSEE: NEW YORK POWER AUTHORITY
SITE: FITZPATRICK 1 EN NUMBER:30149
DOCKET: 05000333 EVENT DATE: 03-21-96
RX TYPE: BWR EVENT TIME: 14:00
VENDORS: GE-4 NOTIFY DATE: 03-21-96
EMERGENCY CLASS: N/A REGION: 1 STATE: NY TIME: 15:43
OPS OFFICER: LEIGH TROCINE
10 CFR SECTION: AIND 50.72(b)(2)(iii)(D) ACCIDENT MITIGATION
UNIT SCRAM RX INIT INITIAL MODE CURR CURRENT MODE
CODE CRIT PWR PWR
1 N Y 100 POWER OPERATION 100 POWER OPERATION
POTENTIAL FOR CIRCUIT BREAKER SPRING CHARGING MOTOR LIMIT SWITCH
FAILURES TO AFFECT 4 KV CIRCUIT BREAKERS IN BOTH SAFETY DIVISIONS
ON FEBRUARY 12, 1996, FAILURES OF CIRCUIT BREAKER SPRING CHARGING
MOTOR LIMIT SWITCHES CAUSED THE CIRCUIT BREAKERS FOR RESIDUAL
HEAT REMOVAL SERVICE WATER PUMPS 'A' AND 'C' TO FAIL TO CLOSE.
UPON EVALUATION OF THESE FAILURES FOR POTENTIAL 10 CFR PART 21
REPORTABILITY, THE LICENSEE CONCLUDED (AT 1400 ON MARCH 21, 1996)
THAT THE FAILURE OF THESE LIMIT SWITCHES HAD THE POTENTIAL TO
AFFECT 4 KV CIRCUIT BREAKERS IN BOTH SAFETY DIVISIONS.
THE FAILED LIMIT SWITCHES WERE DAMAGED DUE TO INTERRUPTION OF A
DIRECT CURRENT INDUCTIVE LOAD CIRCUIT WITH APPROXIMATELY 6 AMPS
CURRENT COMPARED TO A GENERAL ELECTRIC SALES CATALOG LISTING OF
2.2 AMPS. GENERAL ELECTRIC HAS REPORTED ADEQUATE LIFE TESTING
FOR THESE SWITCHES. HOWEVER, THE FAILED LIMIT SWITCH CONTACTS
HAD BEEN OPERATED ONLY 2,163 AND 3,233 TIMES IN LIEU OF THE
10,000 TIMES THAT GENERAL ELECTRIC WAS CERTIFYING.
SHORTLY AFTER THESE FAILURES OCCURRED, THE LICENSEE TESTED THE
PUMPS ON THE OPPOSITE TRAIN WITH SATISFACTORY RESULTS. BECAUSE
ONLY ONE TRAIN WAS INOPERABLE, THE UNIT ENTERED A 7 DAY TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATION LIMITING CONDITION FOR OPERATION. THE LICENSEE
SUBSEQUENTLY DETERMINED THAT 4 KV CIRCUIT BREAKERS THAT WERE USED
IN OTHER SAFETY RELATED APPLICATIONS WERE POTENTIALLY AFFECTED.
AS A RESULT, THE LICENSEE REPLACED THE LIMIT SWITCH CONTACTS IN
THE FAILED CIRCUIT BREAKERS AND IN 6 OTHERS WHICH HAD MORE THAN
1,500 CYCLES. (THIS 1,500 CYCLE THRESHOLD WAS DETERMINED BY AN
ENGINEERING EVALUATION.) PREVIOUS FAILURES HAD NOT BEEN
OBSERVED. THERE ARE NO CURRENT TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION LIMITING
CONDITIONS FOR OPERATION ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ISSUE.
THE LICENSEE NOTIFIED THE NRC RESIDENT INSPECTOR AND PLANS TO
SUBMIT A LICENSEE EVENT REPORT IN ACCORDANCE WITH 10 CFR 50.73.
THE LICENSEE BELIEVES THAT THIS WILL ALSO FULFILL THE REPORTING
REQUIREMENTS OF 10 CFR PART 21.
Page Last Reviewed/Updated Wednesday, March 24, 2021