Part 21 Report - 1998-381

 
 

ACCESSION #: 9805200302



Nebraska Public Power District

                                   COOPER NUCLEAR STATION

                              P.O. BOX 98, BROWNVILLE, NEBRASKA 68321

                                   TELEPHONE (402) 825-2811

                                     FAX: (402) 825-0211



NLS980087

May 13, 1998



U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Attention: Document Control Desk

Washington, D.C. 20555-0001



Gentlemen:



Subject:       Part 21-Reporting of Defects in Solenoid Valves

               Cooper Nuclear Station, NRC Docket 50-298, DPR-46



The following report is submitted pursuant to 10CFR Part 21 requirements:



On March 18, 1998 Cooper Nuclear Station (CNS) determined that the

Automatic Switch Company (ASCO) solenoid valves purchased under Purchase

Order (PO) 970161, contained a defect.  These valves (Part No.

NPL8342B2E) were received by CNS on May 29, 1997.  CNS has found brass

strands inside the valve bodies of two of the valves.  These brass

strands have been determined to be the most likely cause for improper

operation of the valves.



The subject solenoid valves were manufactured by Automatic Switch

Company, 50-60 Hanover Road, Florham Park, New Jersey, 07932.



The brass strands were found inside the body of the solenoid valve

HV-SOV-(SPV-259) that failed on March 1, 1998.  This valve, which has

since been replaced, is installed in the Reactor Building Ventilation

System.  The presence of the brass strands was determined to be the most

likely cause for this solenoid valve failing in the mid-position.  The

failure of the HV-SOV-(SPV-259) valve could have prevented the HV-AOV-

259AV valve from closing.  The brass strands were also found in one spare

solenoid valve obtained under the same PO. CNS, however, did not find any

brass strands in the spare solenoid valve from a different PO.

Therefore, it appears that the failure of these valves might be a

batch-related problem.



The potential safety hazard, which could have been created by the

presence of the brass strands inside the valve body, following an

accident, is, a potential release of radiation to the atmosphere in

excess of 10CFR100 guidelines.  Further, the failure of closing the

HV-SOV-(SPV-259) valve due to the presence of the brass strands could

create a single failure post-accident, if the redundant valve

HV-MOV-258MV failed to close.



CNS purchased three valves under PO 970161.  One of the valves was

installed as HV-SOV-(SPV-259) in the Reactor Building Ventilation,

System.  The other two valves were in the warehouse.



NLS980087

May 13, 1998

Page 2



We have replaced the defective HV-SOV-(SPV-259) valve with a valve from a

different batch. The two defective valves from the warehouse have been

removed.  All three defective valves have been returned to ASCO.

Further, we have discussed with ASCO the defect described in this report.



Sincerely,



J. H. Swailes

Vice President of Nuclear Energy



/rss

Enclosure



cc:  Regional Administrator

     USNRC - Region IV



     Senior Project Manager

     USNRC - NRR Project Directorate IV-1



     Senior Resident Inspector

     USNRC



     NPG Distribution



ATTACHMENT 3 LIST OF NRC COMMITMENTS



Correspondence No: NLS980087



The following table identifies those actions committed to by the District

in this document.  Any other actions discussed in the submittal represent

intended or planned actions by the District.  They are described to the

NRC for the NRC's information and are not regulatory commitments.  Please

notify the NL&S Manager at Cooper Nuclear Station of any questions

regarding this document or any associated regulatory commitments.



                                                       COMMITTED DATE

                              COMMITMENT                 OR OUTAGE



None



          PROCEDURE NUMBER 0.42    REVISION NUMBER 6        PAGE 9 OF 13



POWER REACTOR                                          EVENT NUMBER:

34233



FACILITY: COOPER         REGION: 4      NOTIFICATION DATE:  05/14/98

UNIT: [1] [ ] [ ]          STATE: NE    NOTIFICATION TIME:  15:02 (ET]

RX TYPE: [1] GE-4                       EVENT DATE:         03/18/98

                                        EVENT TIME:         00:00 [CDT]

NRC NOTIFIED BY: CHRIS MOELLER/GARY     LAST UPDATE DATE:   05/14/98

  STOCK

HQ OPS OFFICER: LEIGH TROCINE                     NOTIFICATIONS



EMERGENCY CLASS: NOT APPLICABLE

10 CFR SECTION:                         TOM STETKA          RDO

CCCC 21.21     UNSPECIFIED PARAGRAPH

                                        VERN HODGE          NRR



UNIT  SCRAM CODE  RX CRIT  INIT PWR  INIT RX MODE  CURR PWR  CURR RX

MODE

 1        N         Y         100    POWER OPERATION  100    POWER

                                                              OPERATION



                               EVENT TEXT



10 CFR PART 21 NOTIFICATION - DEFECTS IN ASCO SOLENOID VALVES



ON MARCH 18, 1998, COOPER NUCLEAR STATION (CNS) DETERMINED THAT THE

AUTOMATIC SWITCH COMPANY (ASCO) SOLENOID VALVES, PURCHASED UNDER

PURCHASE

ORDER (PO) 970161, CONTAINED A DEFECT.  THESE VALVES (PART NO.

NPL8342B2E) WERE RECEIVED BY CNS ON MAY 29, 1997.  CNS FOUND BRASS

STRANDS INSIDE THE VALVE BODIES OF TWO OF THE VALVES.  THESE BRASS

STRANDS HAVE BEEN FOUND TO BE THE MOST LIKELY CAUSE FOR IMPROPER

OPERATION OF THE VALVES.  THESE VALVES WERE MANUFACTURED BY ASCO,

50-60 HANOVER ROAD, FLORHAM PARK, NEW JERSEY, 07932.



CNS PURCHASED THREE VALVES UNDER PO 970161.  ONE OF THESE VALVES WAS

INSTALLED AS HV-SOV-(SPV-259) IN THE REACTOR BUILDING VENTILATION

SYSTEM.

THIS VALVE FAILED ON MARCH 1, 1998, AND IT HAS SINCE BEEN REPLACED.

BRASS STRANDS WERE FOUND INSIDE THIS VALVE.  THE OTHER TWO VALVES

WERE IN

THE WAREHOUSE.  BRASS STRANDS ALSO WERE FOUND IN ONE OF THESE TWO

VALVES.

CNS, HOWEVER, DID NOT FIND ANY BRASS STRANDS IN A SPARE VALVE FROM

ANOTHER PO.  ALL THREE VALVES FROM PO 970161 HAVE BEEN RETURNED TO

ASCO.



THE LICENSEE PLANS TO NOTIFY THE NRC RESIDENT INSPECTOR.  (REFER TO

THE

HOO LOG FOR A SITE CONTACT TELEPHONE NUMBER.)



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