Part 21 Report - 1997-542

 
 

ACCESSION #: 9709120092



Stephen E.  Quinn

Vice President



Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc.     September 5, 1997

Indian Point Station

Broadway & Bleakley Avenue                   Re:  Indian Point Unit No. 2

Buchanan, NY 10511                                Docket No. 50-247

Telephone (914) 734-5340



Document Control Desk

US Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Mail Station P1-137

Washington, DC 20555



SUBJECT:  10 CFR Part 21 Written Notification



On August 6, 1997, Con Edison submitted, by facsimile, the initial

notification of a condition at Indian Point Unit No. 2 which we

determined to be reportable under the requirements of 10 CFR Part 21.

The reported condition involved switches which had been installed at the

plant prior to the promulgation of the Part 21 regulations.  We believe,

however, that the Part 21 reporting mechanism is reasonable and

conservative.  The requirements of 10 CFR 21.21(d)(4) identify specific

information to be included in this written notification.  That

information is provided in the attachment to this letter.



Should you have any questions regarding this matter, please contact Mr.

Charles W. Jackson, Manager, Nuclear Safety and Licensing.



                                        Very truly yours,



C:   Mr.  Hubert J.  Miller

     Regional Administrator - Region I

     US Nuclear Regulatory Commission

     475 Allendale Road

     King of Prussia, PA 19406



     Mr.  Jefferey F.  Harold, Project Manager

     Project Directorate I-1

     Division of Reactor Projects I/II

     US Nuclear Regulatory Commission

     Mail Stop 14B-2

     Washington, DC 20555



     Senior Resident Inspector

     US Nuclear Regulatory Commission

     PO Box 38

     Buchanan, NY 10511



ATTACHMENT



Indian Point Unit No. 2 W-2 Switches with Texin Starwheels



The following information is provided as required by 10 CFR 21.21 (d)(4).



(i)  Name and address of individual informing the Commission.



     Stephen E.  Quinn, Vice President - Nuclear Power

     Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc.

     Indian Point Unit No. 2

     Broadway and Bleakley Ave.

     Buchanan, NY 10511



(ii) Identification of the basic component which contains a defect.



     Component:     W-2 Switch Starwheel

                    Recirculation Switches 3, 4, 6 and 8

                    (Manual control switches which support transfer from

                    injection mode to recirculation mode for various

                    engineered safety features components at Indian Point

                    Unit No. 2)

     Model:         Type W-2



(iii)Identification of the firm supplying the basic component which

     contains a defect.



     Westinghouse Electric Corporation

     product line subsequently transferred to

     Electroswitch Switches & Relays

     Unit of Electroswitch Corp.

     180 King Ave

     Weymouth, MA 02188



(iv) Nature of the defect and the safety hazard which could be created by

     such a defects.



     On June 6, 1997 during performance of a periodic test, Control Room

     Operators noted that two manual control switches were "sloppy" when

     operated.  Although the switches did not fail to function as

     required, work was initiated to investigate and repair the switches.

     These switches, which are Westinghouse type W-2 switches with more

     than three stages, were found with starwheels made of Texin

     material.  This is significant because Westinghouse, September 30,

     1974, NSD Technical Bulletin, NSD-TB-74-10, warned of a problem with

     Texin starwheels, but excluded from the bulletin, all switches

     having more than three stages.



     A report provided by Catholic University confirmed that the

     starwheel material within the failed switches as a polyurethane

     through infrared spectroscopy and chemical identification.  The

     analysis also included testing to confirm that the material was not

     nylon (alternative material used for starwheels).  Based on

     similarity comparisons to samples previously forwarded in 1996 it

     was concluded that the starwheel material within the failed switches

     was Texin.



BACKGROUND



     On September 30, 1974, Westinghouse published revised NSD Technical

     Bulletin NSD-TB-74-10, "W-2 Switch Starwheel Failures." In this

     bulletin they described reported failures of certain starwheels

     found in W-2 switches.  Starwheels manufactured prior to January

     1970, installed "in switches of three stages or less," may have been

     made of a material called Texin.  The material is recognizable by

     its color which ranges from light tan to dark brown.  Acceptable

     starwheels are made of nylon and are either white or black,

     depending on their date of manufacture.  White were produced from

     1964-1969 and black since 1970.



(v)  The date on which the information of such defect was obtained.



     The Catholic University Report, which confirmed the starwheel

     material in these switches having more than three stages was Texin,

     was received by FAX transmission on June 17, 1997.



(vi) In the case of a basic component which contains a defect, the number

     and location of all such components in use at the facility subject

     to the regulations in this part.



     The four switches identified, were the only cases where unexpected

     Texin material was found in a switch with more than three stages.



(vii) The corrective action which has been taken.



     Inspections of all W-2 switches having more than three stages were

     performed.  Only the four switches identified above were found to

     have Texin starwheels.  The Texin starwheels were subsequently

     replaced with new Nylon starwheels.



(viii) Any advice related to the defect that has been given to purchasers

     or licensees.



     Two Nuclear Network Entries were made to alert other licensees to

     this potential condition.



     Westinghouse was provided with supporting technical information and

     a copy of the Catholic University Report by FAX on June 19, 1997.



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