Part 21 Report - 1999-461

Technology for Energy Corporation
10737 Lexington Drive
Knoxville, TN 37932
Telephone: (423) 966-5856

October 26, 1999

ATTN: Document Control Desk
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Washington, D.C. 20555

Subject: 10 CFR Part 21 Interim Report

Gentlemen:

Pursuant to the requirements of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 21, Section 21(a) (2), Technology for Energy Corporation (TEC) hereby submits the attached interim report regarding a potential defect in Valve Flow Monitoring Systems provided by TEC to the nuclear power industry. Further evaluation is required to determine if the subject condition constitutes a defect as defined in 10CFR21 .3. Such a determination cannot be made at this time. The attached interim report provides a summary of the evaluation results to date and further planned actions relative to evaluation for reportability in accordance with 10CFR21. The final determination of reportability will be made as soon as practical following completion of all tests. As required by 10CFR21, TEC will notify the NRC should the evaluation conclude that the potential defect could create a substantial safety hazard. Please contact me should you have any questions regarding this submittal.

Sincerely Yours, Ronald D. Brenner President & CEO

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Attachment

10737 LEXINGTON DRIVE
KNOXVILLE, TN 37932-3294
PHONE (423) 966-5856 FAX (423) 675-1241

10 CFR 21 POTENTIAL DEFECT INTERIM REPORT

Description of Potential Defect:

The RTV-738 sealant used in the TEC Valve Flow Monitoring System cannot be demonstrated to meet the containment qualification conditions.

Background Information:

During discussions with customers concerning the application of RTV-738 sealant at the accelerometer connection to hardline cable, it was discovered that the recommended installation procedure was not specified during the qualification test (1980). One witness to the qualification test confirmed that the RTV-738 was present but further stated it had been removed and replaced between qualification stages (aging, irradiaUon, seismic, and LOCA). Records cannot confirm if this was the test condition, but a set of cable resistance measurements suggests the RTV-738 was removed in order to perform the resistance testing. This uncertainty impacts the qualified life of the Valve Flow Monitoring System since the accelerometer to hardline cable could be exposed to LOCA conditions and the RTV-738 is applied to seal the junction between these components. Internal Corrective Action Report # 0026 has been initiated to track this condition.

Reference Documents: TEC Installation Instruction 160-1-07

TEC Qualification Report 517-TR-03

Evaluation Progress:

After confirming that documentation was not available to conclusively demonstrate the qualified test conditions, a new qualification test plan was generated and has started. This testing is designed to demonstrate if the accelerometer to hard line cable junction can be qualified not only using RTV-738, but also without RTV-738 and with Raychem heat shrink. Thermal aging is complete without failure and irradiation is now underway, The full test is expected to be completed by December 10,1999 with the final LOCA testing phase scheduled to start on November 8, 1999.

Impact on Operating Plants:

There have been no reported failures of the accelerometer to hardline cable junction except due to physical damage during outages. Therefore, no action is recommended at this Ume pending verification of the qualified assembly both with and without th TV-738 sealant.

Prepared by:

Reviewed by: 4). ~

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Technology for Energy Corporation
10737 Lexington Drive
Knoxville, TN 37932
Telephone; (423) 966-5856

October26, 1999

ATTN: Document Control Desk
U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Washington, D.C. 20555

Subject: 10 CFR Pert 21 Interim Report

Gentlemen:

Pursuant to the requirements of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 21, Section 21(a) (2), Technology for Energy CorporatIon (TEC) hereby submits the attached Interim report regarding a potential defect In Valve Flow Monitoring Systems provided by TEC to the nuclear power industry further evaluation is required to determine if the subject condition constitutes a defect as defined In 10CFR21 .

3. Such a determination cannot be made at this time. The attached Interim report provides a summary of the evaluation results to date and further planned actions relative to eveluation for reportablilty In accordance with I 0CF~I. The final determination of reportebility will be made as soon as pracUcal following completion of all tests. As required by 1OCFR2I, TEC will notify the NRC should the evaluation conclude that the potential defect could create a substantial safety hazard. Please contact me should you have any que6tions regarding this submittal.

Sincerely Yours, Ronald D. Brenner President & CEO

---

Attachment

10737 LEXINGTON DRIVE
KNOXVILLE, TN 37932-3294
PHONE (423) 966-5856 FAX (423) 675-1241

10 CFR 21 POTENTIAL DEFECT INTERIM REPORT

Description of Potential Defect:

The RTV-738 sealant used in the TEC Valve Flow Monitoring System cannot be demonstrated to meet the containment qualification conditions.

Background information:

During discussions with customers concerning the application of RTV-738 sealant at the accelerometer connection to hardline cable~ it was discovered that the recommended installation proce::iure was not specified during the qualification test (1980). One witness to the qualification test confirmed that the RTV-738 was present but further stated it had been removed and replaced between qualification stages (aging1 irradiation1 seismic, and LOCA). Records cannot confirm if this was the test condition, but a set of cable resistance measurements su9gests the RTV-738 was removed in order to perform the resistance testing. This uncertainty impacts the qualified life of the Valve ~low Monitoring System since the accelerometer to hardilne cable could be exposed to LOCA conditions end the RTV-738 is applied to seal the junction between these components. Internal Corrective Action Report # 0026 has been initiated to track this condition.

Reference Documents: TEC Installation instruction 160-1-07

TEC Qualification Report 517-TR-03

Evaluation Progress:

After confirming that documentation was not available to conclusively demonsfrate the qualified test conditions, a new qualification test plan was generated and has started. This testing is designed to demonstrate if the accelerometer to hardline cable junction can be qualified not only using RTV-7381 but also Without RTV-738 and with Raychem heat shrink. Thermal aging is complete without failure and Irradiation is now underway, The full test Is expected to be completed by December 10, 1999 with the final LOCA testing phase scheduled to start on November 8, 1999 impact on Operating Plants:

There have been no reported failures of the accelemmeter to hardline cable junction except due to physical damage during outages. Therefore. no action is recommended at this time pending verification of the qualified assembly both with and without t TV-738 sealant.

Prepared by:

Reviewed by: k)a ~. ~

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Fd</26/1999

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Operations Center Event Report

Page 1

General Information or Other (GEN)			Event#	36350
Rep Org:	TECHNOLOGY for ENERGY CORP.		Notification Date/Time:	1012611999 13:48 (EDT)
Licensee:	TECHNOLOGY for ENREGY CORP.		Event Date/Time:	10126/1999 13:48 (EDT)
Last Modification:	10/26/1999
Region:	2		Docket #:
City:	KNOXVILLE		Agreement State:	Yes
County:			License #:
State:	TN
NRC Notified by:	JEFF LOLLAR		Notifications:	MARK LESSER R2
HQ Ops Officer:	JOHN MacKINNON			VERNHODGE NRR
Emergency Class:				DAVID LEW RI
NON EMERGENCY				MIKE JORDAN R3
10 CFR Section:	21.21 UNSPECIFIED PARAGRAPH			DAVID LOVELESS R4

RTV SEALANT USED IN THE TEC VALVE FLOW MONITORING SYSTEM CANNOT BE DEMONSTRATED TO MEET THE CONTAINMENT QUALIFICATION CONDITIONS.

10 CFR Part 21 Interim Report submitted by Technology for Energy Corporation (TEC), located in Knoxville, TN.

TEC is reporting a potenUal defect in Valve Flow Monitoring Systems provided by TEC to the nuclear power industry. Further evaluation is required to determine if the subject condition constitutes a defect as defined in 10CFR21 .3. The RTV-738 sealant used in the TEC Valve Flow Monitoring System cannot be demonstrated to meet the containment qualification conditions.

During discussions with customers concerning the application of RTV-738 sealant at the accelerometer connection to hard line cable, it was discovered that the recommended installation procedure was not specified during the qualification test (1980). One witness to the qualification test confirm that the RTV-738 was present but further stated it had been removed and replaced between qualification stages (aging, irradiation, seismic, and LOCA). Records cannot confirm if this was the test condition, but a set of cable resistance measurements suggest the RTV-738 was removed in order to perform the resistance testing. This uncertainty impacts the qualified life of the Valve Flow Monitoring System since the accelerometer to hardline cable could be exposed to LOCA conditions and the RTV-738 is applied to seal the junction between these components. Internal Corrective Action Report # 0026 has been initiated to track this condition.

After confirming that documentation was not available to conclusively demonstrate the qualified test conditions, a new qualification test plan was generated and has started. This tesung is designed to demonstrate if the accelerometer to hardline cable junction can be qualified not only using RTV-738, but also without RTV-738 and with Raychem heat shrink. Thermal aging is complete without failure and irradiation is now underway. The full test is expected to be completed by December 10,1999 with the final LOCA testing phase scheduled to start on November 8,1999.

There have been no reported failures of the accelerometer to hardline cable junction except due to physical damage during outages. Therefore, no action is recommended at this time pending verification of the qualified assembly both with and without the RTV-738 sealant.