Information Notice No. 86-66: Potential for Failure of Replacement AC Coils Supplied by the Westinghouse Electric Corporation for use in Class 1E Motor Starters and Contactors
SSINS No.: 6835
IN 86-66
UNITED STATES
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555
August 15, 1986
Information Notice No. 86-66: POTENTIAL FOR FAILURE OF REPLACEMENT AC
COILS SUPPLIED BY THE WESTINGHOUSE
ELECTRIC CORPORATION FOR USE IN CLASS 1E
MOTOR STARTERS AND CONTACTORS
Addressees:
All nuclear power reactor facilities holding an operating license or a
construction permit.
Purpose:
This notice is to alert licensees that certain Westinghouse Electric
Corporation ac coils have shown a higher failure rate than previously
experienced. These coils are similar to Class IE coils manufactured and
supplied by Westinghouse as replacement parts for use in Class 1E motor
starters and contactors.
It is expected that the licensees will review this information for
applicability to their facilities and consider actions, if appropriate, to
preclude the use of the defective coils. However, suggestions contained in
this information notice do not constitute NRC requirements; therefore, no
specific action or written notice is required.
Description of Circumstances:
On June 19, 1986 Westinghouse Water Reactor Division (WRD) submitted a 10
CFR Part 21 report to the NRC indicating a higher-than-normal failure rate
for ac coils. The report stated that most of the failures had been
encountered during the initial hours of energization. These coils were
manufactured at the Westinghouse Control Division (WCD) facility in Coamo,
Puerto Rico, between June 1, 1984 and December 31, 1985 and are provided as
replacement parts for use in motor starters and contactors.
Discussion:
During early June 1986, Westinghouse concluded that the Class 1E coils used
in certain motor starters and contactors in nuclear plants could be subject
to failure. This conclusion was based on information from various
non-nuclear customers about failures of similar coils. However, it should be
noted that up to this time no nuclear power plant Class 1E coil failures had
been reported to WRD.
8608120034
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IN 86-66
August 15, 1986
Page 2 of 2
Discussions between Westinghouse divisions have determined that the
non-Class 1E coils manufactured between June 1, 1984 and December 31, 1985
experienced a significant increase in failure rate compared to prior
history. These reported coil failures occurred primarily less than 1 hour to
several hours after the coils had been continuously energized. To correct
the problem, WCD made a number of manufacturing changes that included
revised materials and processes. Westinghouse tests performed on newly
manufactured coils have indicated that the modified coils are not subject to
the same failures as those coils manufactured during June 1, 1984 through
December 31, 1985. Westinghouse states, "Any coil manufactured since the
beginning of 1986 is free of the potential for such failures." WRD has
determined that any coil which has been successfully energized continuously
(not cumulative) for 5 days or more is expected to perform satisfactorily
and need not be replaced. Attached is a list of the plants with potentially
defective coils that have been notified by WRD, followed by the, WRD list of
date codes of potentially defective coils.
For facilities not on the list and using or stocking any WCD coils with one
of the listed date codes, it is suggested that the Westinghouse Water
Reactor Division be contacted for information on the need for corrective
action.
No specific action or written response is required by this information
notice. If you have any questions about this matter, 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
Attachments:
1. List of Facilities and Date Codes
2. List of Recently Issued IE Information Notices
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Attachment 1
IN 86-66
August 15, 1986
Page 1 of 2
FACILITIES NOTIFIED BY WESTINGHOUSE
1. Maine Yankee
2. Oconee
3. Prairie Island
4. San Onofre
5. Three Mile Island
6. Turkey Point
7. Vermont Yankee
DATE CODES OF POTENTIALLY DEFECTIVE COILS
WEEK OF
MANUFACTURE NUMBERS 1984 DATE CODES 1985 DATE CODES
01 CRSEC
02 CRWEC
03 CRIEC
04 CRTEC
05 CRCEC
06 CRHEC
07 CRGEC
08 CREEC
09 CRAEC
10 CSREC
11 CSSEC
12 CSWEC
Approx 3-31 13 CSIEC
14 CSTEC
15 CSCEC
16 CSHEC
17 CSGEC
18 CSEEC
19 CSAEC
20 CWREC
Approx 6-1 21 CWSET CWSEC
22 CWWET CWWEC
23 CWIET CWIEC
24 CWTET CWTEC
25 CWCET CWCEC
Approx 7-1 26 CWHET CWHEC
27 CWGET CWGEC
28 CWEET CWEEC
29 CWAET CWAEC
30 CIRET CIREC
31 CISET CISEC
32 CIWET CIWEC
33 CIIET CIIEC
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Attachment 1
IN 86-66
August 15, 1986
Page 2 of 2
WEEK OF
MANUFACTURE NUMBERS 1984 DATE CODES 1985 DATE CODES
34 CITET CITEC
35 CICET CICEC
36 CIHET CIHEC
37 CIGET CIGEC
38 CIEET CIEEC
Approx 9-30 39 CIAET CIAEC
40 CTRET CTREC
41 CTSET CTSEC
42 CTWET CIWEC
43 CTIET CTIEC
44 CTTET CTTEC
45 CTCET CTCEC
46 CTHET CTHEC
47 CTGET CTGEC
48 CTEET CTEEC
49 CTAET CTAEC
50 CCRET CCREC
51 CCSET CCSEC
Approx 12-31 52 CCWET CCWEC
NOTE: Any coil with one of these date codes should be treated as potentially
defective and appropriate action taken.
Page Last Reviewed/Updated Tuesday, March 09, 2021