Part 21 Report - 1998-351

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ACCESSION #: 9805040408

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POWER REACTOR		NUMBER:	34155
FACILITY: INDIAN POINT	REGION: 1	NOTIFICATION DATE:	04/30/98
UNIT:	[ ] [3] [ ] STATE: NY	NOTIFICATION TIME:	15:39 [ET]
RX TYPE:	[2] W-4-LP, [3] W-4-LP	EVENT DATE:	04/29/98
		EVENT TIME:	10:30 [EDT]
		LAST UPDATE DATE:	04/30/98
NRC NOTIFIED BY:	KOCSIS
HQ OPS OFFICER:	CHAUNCEY GOULD	NOTIFICATIONS
EMERGENCY CLASS:	NOT APPLICABLE	NIEL DELLA GRECA	RDO
10 CFR SECTION:	CCCC 21.21	VERN HODGE	NRR
	UNSPECIFIED PARAGRAPH

UNIT	SCRAM CODE	RX CRIT	INIT PWR	INIT RX MODE	CURR PWR	CURR RX MODE
3	N	Y	100	POWER OPERATION	100	POWER OPERATION

EVENT TEXT

PART-21 REPORT FAILURE OF 480 VAC BREAKER DUE TO LACK OF LUBRICATION.

AN ENGINEERING EVALUATION CONCLUDED THE WESTINGHOUSE TYPE DS-416 CIRCUIT BREAKER FAILED TO OPEN ON DEMAND BECAUSE LUBRICATION AT KEY PIVOT POINTS IN THE BREAKER MECHANISM WAS MISSING. THE LACK OF PROPER LUBRICATION WAS DETERMINED TO BE THE RESULT OF A BREAKER OVERHAUL PERFORMED BY POWER DISTRIBUTION TECHNOLOGY (PDT) WHICH REMOVED THE LUBRICANTS AND FAILED TO REAPPLY THEM. PDT HAD OVERHAULED THE FAILED BREAKER AND THREE OTHER TYPE DS-416 BREAKERS IN 1994 IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LICENSE'S PURCHASE ORDER WHICH CONTAINED SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS RELATED TO LUBRICATION. THE LACK OF LUBRICATION ON THE BREAKERS OVERHAULED BY PDT, WHICH IS NO LONGER IN BUSINESS, COULD HAVE PREVENTED A BREAKER FROM PERFORMING ITS SAFETY FUNCTION, RESULTING IN A SUBSTANTIAL SAFETY HAZARD.

THE RESIDENT INSPECTOR HAS BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE PART 21.

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EVENT NOTIFICATION WORKSHEET

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10 CFR Part 21 Notification

LER 97-032-00 dated January 16, 1998, reported the failure of a 480 volt AC type DS-416 circuit breaker to open on demand. An engineering evaluation concluded the cause of the breaker failure was missing lubrication at key pivot points In the breaker mechanism. The lack of proper lubrication was determined to be a result of a breaker overhaul performed by Power Distribution Technology (PDT) which removed lubricants and failed to reapply them. PDT had overhauled the failed breaker and three other type DS-416 breakers in 1994 in accordance with a NYPA purchase order which contained specific requirements related to lubrication including total lubrication of all friction surfaces. Engineering determined that without proper lubrication the breaker is not qualified and may not operate and perform its function. One of the safety functions of 480 volt type DS-416 breakers is to trip when required to provide load shedding to prevent safety bus or Emergency Diesel Generator overloading. Engineering concluded on April 29, 1998, that the breaker defect could result in a substantial safety hazard. The lack of lubrication on the breakers overhauled by PDT could have prevented a breaker from performing its safety function resulting in loss of a 480 volt safety bus. A breaker failure during a design basis event with loss of offsite power and an independent single failure of a redundant bus could result in the loss of a second of the three emergency onsite power sources. PDT is no longer in business. The original breaker manufacturer was Westinghouse. LER 97-032-00 was supplemented by LER 97-032-01 dated April 17, 1998.

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