Part 21 Report - 1997-780

 
 

ACCESSION #: 9710070133



Coltec Industries                            Fairbanks Morse

                                             Engine Division

                                             701 White Avenue

                                             Beloit, WI 53511-5492

                                             608/364-4411

                                             FAX: 608/364-0382



                             INTERIM LETTER



To: Document Control Desk

     U.S.  Nuclear Regulatory Commission

     Washington, DC.  20555



From: Coltec Industries-Fairbanks Morse Engine Division (FMED)



Date: 30 September 1997



Subject: Weldments on Opposed Piston and Coltec-Pielstick Emergency

     Stand-By Diesel Gen-Set Lube-Oil and Jacket Water Piping Systems



On 4 August 1997, FMED became aware that a weldment associated with the

lube-oil piping system failed at Millstone Unit 2.  Further investigation

by the utility revealed less than full penetration in the affected weld.

The condition was observed in a weld joint associated with a 4 inch

mechanical tube section with a .250 inch wall located on the lube oil

pump discharge piping.



At this time, the root cause of the Millstone piping failure is not yet

known.  However, due to the fact that the failure occurred in a weld with

partial penetration, the quality of the weldment is being considered.



The welds at issue are the original welds performed in the late 1960s,

and early 1970s; when contract requirements did not invoke either ASME

Section III, Class 3 Piping, or ANSI B31.1 Piping design requirements.

The following utility sites are affected:



     Arkansas Nuclear One               Millstone 1 & 2

     Calvert Cliffs 1 & 2               North Anna 1 & 2

     Crystal River 3                    Peach Bottom 2 & 3

     Duane Arnold Energy Center         Plant Hatch 1 & 2

     Farley 1 & 2                       Prairie Island 1 & 2

     Fermi 2 & 3                        Vermont Yankee



                                    A division of Coltec Industries, Inc.



Coltec Industries, Fairbanks Morse Engine Division is currently

conducting an evaluation under the rules of 10 CFR Part 21.  Pipe

sections returned from Florida Power Corporation, Crystal River 3 and

sections of pipe from a spare unit returned by Baltimore Gas & Electric

earlier this year provide the source for initial samples currently being

analyzed by FMED.  Additional samples of lube-oil and/or jacket water

piping have been requested from Florida Power, Millstone and Vermont

Yankee.



As a minimum, the following questions will be answered as a result of the

evaluation.



     1) is the weld design compliant with customer requirements?

     2) are the subject welds compliant with FMED design requirements?

     3) if not, do the existing welds posses sufficient strength?

     4) what is the root cause of the identified condition?

     5) what corrective action, if any, should the customer take?

     6) what preventive action is required by FMED?



It is estimated that the evaluation will require an additional six (6) to

ten (10) weeks to complete.



Sincerely,



Scott A. Fratianne

Sr. Quality Assurance Engineer



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