Part 21 Report - 1998-201

 
 

ACCESSION #: 9802110143



                                   Illinois Power Company

                                   Clinton Power Station

                                   P.O. Box 678

                                   Clinton, IL 61727

                                   Tel 217 930-0023

                                   Fax 217 935-4632



                                   Walter G. MacFarland IV

                                   Chief Nuclear Officer

ILLINOIS

   POWER                           U-G02925

                                   4F.140

An Illinova Company

                         February 6, 1998



Docket No. 40-561



Document Control Desk

Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Washington, D. C.  20555



Subject:  10CFR21 Report 21-97-058: ITT Barton Hydramotor

          Pressure Reducing/Dump Valve Internal Leak



Dear Madam or Sir:



     On December 10, 1997 Illinois Power (TP) initiated Condition Report

1-97-12-165 due to oil leaking around the diaphragm of a replacement

pressure reducing/dump valve installed on a ITT Barton Hydramotor

actuator.  The pressure reducing/dump valve is part number NS108916A

supplied by ITT Barton.  This was discovered prior to declaring the

Hydramotor operable during post maintenance testing of the Hydramotor to

determine if the associated damper met its required closing time.

Hydramotors are used at Clinton Power Station to operate safety-related

dampers in ventilation systems.  Two additional pressure reducing/dump

valves were removed from the storeroom and bench tested.  One of the two

additional valves removed from the storeroom had a leak similar to the

one that was installed on the Hydramotor in the plant, the other valve

successfully passed the bench test.  Investigation into this condition

revealed that the observed problem with the pressure reducing/dump valve

could cause the Hydramotor to close the damper slower than the design

required time.  This is contrary to the purchase specification for the

Hydramotor which specifies the required damper closing time.  This issue

was identified as potentially reportable under the provisions of 10 CFR,

Part 21.



     On the basis that the pressure reducing/dump valve does not meet the

requirements of the procurement document and that the identified

deficiency with the pressure reducing/dump valve could cause an isolation

damper for a safety related system to close slower than assumed in the

plant design, IP has concluded that this issue is reportable under the

provisions of 10 CFR, Part 21.



                                                       U-602925

                                                       Page 2



     IP is providing the following information in accordance with

10CFR21.21(d)(4).  Initial notification of this matter will be provided

by facsimile of this letter to the NRC Operations Center in accordance

with 10CFR21.21(d)(3) within two days of the date the responsible officer

signs this letter.



(i)       Walter G. MacFarland IV, Senior Nuclear Officer of IP, Clinton

          Power Station, Highway 54, 6 Miles East, Clinton, Illinois,

          61727, is informing the Nuclear Regulatory Commission of a

          condition reportable under the provisions of 10CFR, Part 21.



(ii)      The basic component involved in this condition is a replacement

          pressure reducing/dump valve, part number NS108916A, for ITT

          Barton Hydramotors.



(iii)     The pressure reducing/dump valve were supplied to Clinton Power

          Station by ITT Barton, City of Industry, California.



(iv)      The pressure reducing/dump valve had a leak in the diaphragm

          area.  The cause of the leak appears to be poor machining or

          workmanship of the valve at the time of manufacture.  In

          certain applications Hydramotors are required to close dampers

          in a specified time.  With the identified deficiency in the

          pressure reducing/dump valve the Hydramotor may close slower

          than required to meet the time specified by the purchase

          specification.  For example, the failure of a Hydramotor in the

          Standby Gas Treatment System to operate in the required time

          could affect control room habitability in an accident

          situation.



(v)       The deficient pressure reducing/dump valve was identified and

          determined potentially reportable under the provisions of

          10CFR21 on December 10, 1997.



(vi)      There are 103 applications where pressure reducing/dump valves

          of this model are in service at Clinton Power Station.  IP is

          not aware of other facilities that could be affected by this

          deficiency.  Fifteen pressure reducing/dump valves are located

          in the storeroom.



(vii)     The fifteen spare pressure reducing/dump valves located in the

          storeroom (this includes the two that failed) will be sent to a

          vendor to determine if they operate properly.  The vendor will

          rework valves, if possible, that are determined not to operate

          properly.  When pressure reducing/dump valve are installed in a

          Hydramotor that have a design required closing time, Clinton

          Power Station procedures require that they are time tested to

          ensure they meet the design requirements.  The leak deficiency

          would be identified during time testing.  Therefore, no action

          is being taken for currently installed valves.



(viii)    IP has no advice about this issue for other purchasers or

          licensees.



                                                       U-602925

                                                       Page 3



          Additional information about this issue may be obtained by

contacting L. T. Chaney, Nuclear Station Engineering Department, at (217)

935-8881, extension 3658.



                              Sincerely yours,



                              Walter G. MacFarland, IV

                              Chief Nuclear Officer



MRS/krk



cc:  NRC Clinton Licensing Project Manager

     NRC Resident Office, V-690

     Regional Administrator, Region III, USNRC

     Illinois Department of Nuclear Safety

     INPO Records Center

     ASCO (ITT Barton)



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