Information Notice No. 88-46, Supplement 4: Licensee Report of Defective Refurbished Circuit Breakers
UNITED STATES
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555
September 11, 1989
Information Notice No. 88-46, SUPPLEMENT 4: LICENSEE REPORT OF DEFECTIVE
REFURBISHED CIRCUIT BREAKERS
Addressees:
All holders of operating licenses or construction permits for nuclear power
reactors.
Purpose:
This information notice supplement is being provided to present additional
information regarding the supply of surplus or refurbished electrical equip-
ment, such as circuit breakers (CBs), to nuclear power plants as discussed in
NRC Information Notice (IN) 88-46 including Supplements 1, 2, and 3. It is
expected that recipients will review this information for applicability to
their facilities. However, suggestions contained in this information notice
do not constitute NRC requirements; therefore, no specific action or written
response is required.
Description of Circumstances:
Information Notice No. 88-46 discussed a report by Pacific Gas and Electric
Company (PG&E) that defective refurbished CBs were supplied to PG&E's Diablo
Canyon Nuclear Power Plant by a California electrical supplier. Supplement 1
to IN 88-46 provided a list of shipments of CBs to nuclear power plants or
nuclear utilities by five California companies that may have supplied
defective refurbished electrical equipment.
The NRC conducted followup inspections and reviews at selected CB distributors
and at companies suspected of selling used or refurbished CBs. Plant-related
information obtained from these sources was summarized in Supplement 2 to
IN 88-46.
Supplement 3 to IN 88-46 described obsolete GE type THEF CBs that were sup-
plied to the Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant by Bud Ferguson's
Industrial Control and Supply, Inc., as used equipment, but that had
misrepresented manufacturers' rating labels and UL labels.
8909050103
. IN 88-46, Supplement 4
September 11, 1989
Page 2 of 3
When reviewing the IN 88-46 Supplement 2, Attachment 1 listing of shipments of
circuit breakers/electrical equipment for their plant, the McGuire Nuclear
Station identified several procurements of CB parts and accessories as opposed
to complete CBs. This equipment consisted of a Westinghouse shunt trip coil
(Model No. 2609D39624), Westinghouse frames (Model Nos. LA2600F, LA3600F,
MA2800F), and Westinghouse interchangeable trip units for various two and
three pole CBs. The model numbers for these trip units are listed below:
HLA 21250TM HLA 2400TM
HLA 3600T HLB 3200T
HMA 3600T HMA 3700T
HKA 3225T HNB 2700T
These CB replacement parts were purchased from WESCO in Charlotte, North
Carolina. The purchase order documentation indicates that these parts were
shipped directly to McGuire from Molded Case Circuit Breakers Company, Temple
City, California.
During physical inspection of those items located in the warehouse, McGuire
staff noted that the items were not new, but in fact were used equipment.
Listed below are the identifying differences and specific reasons which can be
used to determine if CBs and parts are potentially used and/or refurbished.
SHUNT TRIP COILS
photocopied labels
general appearance rough and worn (specifically plunger rod bent and
worn)
variety of plunger tips
hardware variances from coil to coil (screw styles and mounting bases)
different types of lead wires
INTERCHANGEABLE TRIP UNITS
photocopied labels with information typed on
no UL label or date codes
general appearance dirty and used
terminals wire brushed
different types of mounting bolts (allen head, slotted head)
trip mechanisms soldered in place
screws soldered to trip mechanism
Addressees may wish to review the adequacy of their recent receipt inspections
of similar equipment in view of this information and ensure that conditions
such as described above would have been identified.
. IN 88-46, Supplement 4
September 11, 1989
Page 3 of 3
No specific action or written response is required by this information notice.
If you have any questions about this matter, please contact the technical
contact listed below or the Regional Administrator of the appropriate NRC
regional office.
Charles E. Rossi, Director
Division of Operational Events Assessment
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Technical Contact: R. P. McIntyre, NRR
(301) 492-3215
Attachment: List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices
. Attachment
IN 88-46, Supplement 4
September 11, 1989
Page 1 of 1
LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED
NRC INFORMATION NOTICES
______________________________________________________________________________
Information Date of
Notice No._____Subject_______________________Issuance_______Issued to_________
89-65 Potential for Stress 9/8/89 All holders of OLs
Corrosion Cracking in or CPs for PWRs.
Steam Generator Tube
Plugs Supplied by
Babcock and Wilcox
89-64 Electrical Bus Bar Failures 9/7/89 All holders of OLs
or CPs for nuclear
power reactors.
89-63 Possible Submergence of 9/5/89 All holders of OLs
Electrical Circuits Located or CPs for nuclear
Above the Flood Level Because power reactors.
of Water Intrusion and Lack
of Drainage
89-62 Malfunction of Borg-Warner 8/31/89 All holders of OLs
Pressure Seal Bonnet Check or CPs for nuclear
Valves Caused By Vertical power reactors.
Misalignment of Disk
89-61 Failure of Borg-Warner Gate 8/30/89 All holders of OLs
Valves to Close Against or CPs for nuclear
Differential Pressure power reactors.
88-48, Licensee Report of Defective 8/22/89 All holders of OLs
Supp. 2 Refurbished Valves or CPs for nuclear
power reactors.
89-60 Maintenance of Teletherapy 8/18/89 All NRC Medical
Units Teletherapy
Licensees.
89-59 Suppliers of Potentially 8/16/89 All holders of OLs
Misrepresented Fasteners or CPs for nuclear
power reactors.
89-58 Disablement of Turbine-Driven 8/3/89 All holders of OLs
Auxiliary Feedwater Pump Due or CPs for PWRs.
to Closure of One of the
Parallel Steam Supply Valves
______________________________________________________________________________
OL = Operating License
CP = Construction Permit
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