Part 21 Report - 1997-661

 
 

ACCESSION #: 9709260006



                         BW/IP International, Inc.

                         Pump Division



Byron          P.O. Box  Los Angeles    Telephone

Jackson/       2017      California     213 587 6171

United         GMF       90051          Fax

Pumps                                   213 589 2080



Wilson

Snyder

Centrifugal

Pumps



24 September, 1997



U. S.  Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Attn: Document Control Desk

Washington, D. C. 20555



Notification Pursuant to Title 10, CFR, Part 21



Gentlemen:



This letter transmits a Notification of Defects and Non-conformance in

accordance with the requirements of 10 CFR, Part 21.  The attached

Notification, CFRN 97-01, reports a condition which effects Emergency

Service Water pumps supplied by BW/IP International, Inc. to GPU, Oyster

Creek Nuclear Generating Station.



This transmittal completes the notification requirements on this issue.



Very truly yours,



W.  Lane

Manager, Nuclear Products Operations



Attach.



cc:  Part 21 Evaluation Board Members



                                              NOTIFICATION NO. CFRN-97-01

NOTIFICATION OF A REPORTABLE                      DATE: 24 September 1997

ISSUE PURSUANT TO 10 CFR 21



TO:  U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

     Attn: Document Control Desk

     Washington, D.C. 20555



NAME AND ADDRESS OF INDIVIDUAL INFORMING THE COMMISSION:



     Mr. Woody Lane

     BW/IP International, Inc.

     Pump Division

     2300 East Vernon Avenue

     Vernon, CA 90058

     (213) 587-6171



     For Technical Information Contact: Dr. Kent Huber

     BW/IP Evaluation No. CFR 97-007



IDENTIFICATION OF THE FACILITY, THE ACTIVITY, OR THE BASIC COMPONENT

SUPPLIED FOR SUCH FACILITY OR ACTIVITY WITHIN THE UNITED STATES WHICH

FAILS TO COMPLY OR CONTAINS A DEFECT:



     Facility:           GPU Nuclear, Oyster Creek Nuclear Generation

                         Station



     Basic Component:    Emergency Service Water Pump

                         BW/IP Model 16-GH 4-stage VTP



IDENTIFICATION OF THE FIRM SUPPLYING THE BASIC COMPONENT WHICH FAILS

TO

COMPLY OR CONTAINS A DEFECT:



     BW/IP International, Inc,

     Pump Division:

     2300 E. Vernon Avenue

     Los Angeles, CA 90058



                                                                   Page 1



                                              NOTIFICATION NO. CFRN-97-01



NATURE OF THE DEFECT OR FAILURE TO COMPLY AND THE SAFETY HAZARD

WHICH IS

CREATED OR COULD BE CREATED BY SUCH DEFECT OR FAILURE TO COMPLY:



An Emergency Service Water pump failed during a site Operability Test.

Inspection revealed the threaded flange attaching the column to the top

series case had failed.  Utility attributed failure to dissimilar metals:

a cast iron flange was installed between a stainless steel column pipe

and a stainless steel top case.  Utility removed a second pump from

service which had similar metallurgy



Failure of the pump would preclude its ability to perform its intended

safety function.



THE DATE ON WHICH THE INFORMATION OF SUCH DEFECT OR FAILURE TO

COMPLY WAS

OBTAINED:



BW/IP International, Inc., was informed of the flange failure on 21

August 1997.



IN THE CASE OF A BASIC COMPONENT WHICH CONTAINS A DEFECT OR FAILS TO

COMPLY, THE NUMBER AND LOCATION OF ALL SUCH COMPONENTS IN USE AT,

SUPPLIED FOR, OR BEING SUPPLIED FOR ONE OR MORE FACILITIES OR

ACTIVITIES

SUBJECT TO THE REGULATIONS:



GPU Nuclear, Oyster Creek Station, purchased eight pumps in which cast

iron and stainless steel parts are in contact in a high ion application.

Two pumps have been scrapped.  The material compatibilities of the six

pumps that are in operation at GPUN have either been corrected or are in

the process of being corrected.



Initial evaluation indicates that this is an isolated incident limited to

only this location.  However, a review is being performed of the

installed base of BW/IP pumps to identify the number and location of any

other pumps in similar nuclear applications that may have material

compatibility concerns.



                                                                   Page 2



                                             NOTIFICATION NO.  CFRN-97-01



THE CORRECTIVE ACTION WHICH HAS, IS BEING, OR WILL BE TAKEN: THE NAME

OF

THE INDIVIDUAL OR ORGANIZATION RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ACTION: AND THE

LENGTH

OF TIME THAT HAS BEEN OR WILL BE TAKEN TO COMPLETE THE ACTION:



BW/IP recommends that utility upgrade all pumps in high ion services to

316 stainless steel material and install isolation kits between the

stainless steel column flange and the cast iron discharge head.  Two

pumps from the Oyster Creek station are currently in the BW/IP Service

Center for refurbishment and materials upgrading.  GPU has been advised

to install isolation kits on two units which are currently in operation.



ANY ADVICE RELATED TO THE DEFECT OR FAILURE TO COMPLY ABOUT THE

FACILITY,

ACTIVITY, OR BASIC COMPONENT THAT HAS BEEN, IS BEING, OR WILL BE GIVEN

TO

PURCHASERS:



Pumps were purchased by GPUN in 1986 as commercial items not subject to

10CFR, Part 50, Appendix B or 10CFR, Part 21, requirements.  GPUN

subsequently designated the pumps as Safety-related equipment.  The

dedication process performed by GPUN established the original design as

the design basis of the equipment for future safety-related purchases and

repairs.



Pump was installed in a brackish water environment which caused corrosion

of the top case flange.  Based on inspection observations, BW/IP

recommended, in 1993, that GPUN upgrade all pump components to 316

stainless steel.  However, one pump, S/N 651-N-0748, was refurbished with

GPUN supplied parts, as directed in the GPUN purchase order to support

plant schedules, and returned to the site with a combination of C.I. and

stainless steel materials.



In July 1997, the top case flange on one of the pumps experienced a total

failure.  Inspection showed a second pump also had similar materials of

construction.  Both pumps were removed from service and returned to BW/IP

International for refurbishing.



                                                                   Page 3



GENERAL INFORMATION or OTHER            EVENT NUMBER:  32985



LICENSEE: BW/IP INTERNATIONAL, INC.     NOTIFICATION DATE:     09/24/97

    CITY: LOS ANGELES    REGION: 4      NOTIFICATION TIME:     12:00 (ET)

  COUNTY: LOS ANGELES     STATE: CA     EVENT DATE:            09/24/97

LICENSE#:             AGREEMENT: Y      EVENT TIME:            08:55[PDT]

  DOCKET:                               LAST UPDATE DATE:      09/24/97



                                                  NOTIFICATIONS



                                        ELMO COLLINS        RDO



NRC NOTIFIED BY: W.  LANE (VIA FAX)     VERN HODGE (NRR)    FEMA

HQ OPS OFFICER: STEVE SANDIN            TOM MOSLAK (R1DO)



EMERGENCY CLASS: NOT APPLICABLE

10 CFR SECTION:

CCCC 21.21          UNSPECIFIED PARAGRAPH



                               EVENT TEXT



PART 21 NOTIFICATION



THE EMERGENCY SERVICE WATER PUMP, BW/IP MODEL 16-GH 4-STAGE VTP

FAILED

DURING A SITE OPERABILITY TEST AT THE OYSTER CREEK GENERATING

STATION.

AN INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE THREADED FLANGE ATTACHING THE

COLUMN TO

THE TOP SERIES CASE HAD FAILED.  THE UTILITY (GPU) ATTRIBUTED THE

FAILURE

TO DISSIMILAR METALS; A CAST IRON FLANGE WAS INSTALLED BETWEEN THE

STAINLESS STEEL COLUMN PIPE AND A STAINLESS STEEL TOP CASE.  BW/IP

REVIEWED THE UTILITIES EVALUATION AND RECOMMENDED THAT ALL SUCH

PUMPS IN

HIGH ION SERVICES BE UPGRADED TO 316 STAINLESS STEEL MATERIAL.



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