Information Notice 1988-46, Licensee Report of Defective Refurbished Circuit Breakers
I i
UNITED STATES
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION
WASHINGTON, D.C.
20555
July 8, 1988
NRC INFORMATION NOTICE NO. 88-46: LICENSEE REPORT OF DEFECTIVE REFURBISHED
CIRCUIT BREAKERS
Addressees
All holders of operating licenses or construction permits for nuclear power
reactors.
Purpose
This information notice is being provided to alert addressees of licensee
reported information that defective refurbished electrical equipment, such
as circuit breakers (CBs), may have been supplied to nuclear power plants.
It is expected that recipients will review this information for applicability
to their facilities and consider actions, as appropriate, to avoid similar
problems.
However, suggestions contained in this information notice do not
constitute NRC requirements; therefore, no specific action or written response
is required.
Description of Circumstances
Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) has informed NRC that it placed a
purchase order for 30 new, non-safety-related, molded-case, KHL 36125-type
CBs manufactured by the Square D Company (Square D) with a local electrical
distributor. These CBs were intended for use in non-safety-related applica- tions at PG&E's Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant.
According to PG&E, the distributor in turn placed the order with a local sup- plier who bid the lowest price and promised the quickest delivery. The CBs
were delivered directly to the Diablo Canyon plant by the supplier; the dis- tributor did not have an opportunity to inspect the CBs. Square D, aware of
the purchase order, questioned its failure to receive an order for the unique
vintage KHL 36125-type CBs. With PG&E's permission, Square D inspected the
CBs and determined that PG&E had been given refurbished, rather than new, CBs.
Square D tested and performed detailed examinations of the CBs, and the results
reported by PGLE follow.
A. Physical Examination
The yellow side labels used on the CBs were suspect in that the CB model
numbers were typed on the labels whereas authentic labels are preprinted.
The CBs departed from normal appearance in other respects as well.
887800
IN 88-46 July 8, 1988 The individual CB cases and each of the CB components appeared to be
Square D products; however, the individual CBs incorporated components
of different years of manufacture.
Each CB bore evidence of having been
opened and reassembled.
B. Electric Testing
Square D subjected the CBs to five electrical tests. None of the CBs
complied with Square D or Underwriters' Laboratory (UL) specifications
for all of the tests, and several of the CBs were out of tolerance on
each of the tests.
At least four of the CBs failed to trip under circum- stances in which they are designed to trip.
Discussion:
In the past, there have been instances in which licensees purchased commercial- grade components, such as CBs, relays, trip units, and other electrical compo- nents, from electrical distributors and have received components that did not
meet the original purchase order requirements. NRC has received additional
information indicating that the problem of surplus or defective refurbished
CBs may also apply to CBs sold under other manufacturers' names (e.g., General
Electric, Westinghouse, ITE, Cutler Hammer, and Sylvania).
The electrical suppliers involved in refurbishing and sales of circuit breakers, including the Diablo Canyon, Square D circuit breakers, apparently include five
California corporations. These companies are (1) General Circuit Breaker &
Electric Supply, Inc., (2) HLC Electric Supply Co., Inc., (3) Pencon Inter- national, Inc., doing business as General Magnetics/Electric Wholesale, (4)
California Breakers, Inc., and (5) Anti-Theft Systems, Inc., doing business
as ATS Circuit Breakers and as AC Circuit Breaker-Electrical Supply.
NRC has an investigation and vendor inspection in progress at the above compa- nies. On the basis of the information developed to date, a preliminary list
of customers of the five companies including a list of nuclear utilities (where
available) is provided in Attachment 1. Attachment 2 contains a list of original
equipment manufacturers whose names may have been used on surplus or refurbished
equipment sold as new equipment.
The information included in Attachments 1 and
2 is only preliminary and is provided to assist licensees in reviewing the
potential of having procured suspect electrical equipment at their facilities.
Licensees are reminded of the requirements to ensure that procured items meet
the relevant specifications and codes and are suitable for the intended appli- cation.
Licensees should consider, as a matter of prudence, the need to inquire
of and to verify with their authorized distributors the sources of procured
materials, equipment, and components. Licensees may meet these requirements
by effectively implementing their quality assurance (QA) programs, particularly
in the areas of vendor evaluations, vendor surveillances, receipt inspection, bench tests, and post-installation tests.
IN 88-46 July 8, 1988 NRC is gathering additional information to determine what further actions are
necessary. The primary purpose of this information notice is to alert addressees
of the situation as soon as possible. The NRC is considering issuing a bulletin
to followup on this information notice when the NRC has sufficient information
to define requirements.
No specific action or written response is required by this information notice.
If you have any questions about this matter, please contact one of the techni- cal contacts listed below or the Regional Administrator of the appropriate
regional office.
Char es .Ioili, Director
Division of Operational Events Assessment
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Technical Contacts: K. R. Naidu, NRR
(301) 492-0980
Jaime Guillen, NRR
(301) 492-1170
Attachments:
1. Preliminary List of Customers (Intermediate Suppliers)
of Suspect Electrical Equipment
2.
Preliminary List of Original Equipment Manufacturers
Whose Names May Have Been Used on Surplus or
Refurbished Equipment Sold as New Equipment
3. List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices
Attachment 1
IN 88-46 July 8, 198P, PRELIMINARY LIST OF CUSTOMERS (INTERMEDIATE SUPPLIERS)
OF SUSPECT ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
Organization
Westinghouse Electric
Supply Co. (WESCO)
Power Conversion
Rockwell International
Arkansas Power and Light
Southern California
Edison
Phoenix Electric
Rensenhouse Electric
Breaker and Control
General Electric Company
Southern Electric
Supply Company
Location
Nuclear Utility
(if available)
St. Louis, MO; Boston, MA;
Boise, ID; Atlanta, GA;
Charleston, SC; Panama, FL;
Santa Clara, CA; Fresno, CA;
Sacramento, CA; Shreveport, LA;
Green Bay, WI; Elk Creek, IL;
Albuquerque, NM; Mobile, AL;
Ft. Worth, TX; Baton Rouge, LA;
Birmingham, AL; East Hartford, CT;
Kokomo, IN; Jackson, MS;
Milwaukee, WI; Beaumont, TX;
Nashville, TN; Skelton, WV;
Albany, NY; Hartford, CT;
Portland, ME; St. Paul, MN;
Minneapolis, MN; other locations
Huntington Beach, CA
Los Angeles, CA
Little Rock, AR
San Clemente, CA;
other locations
Phoenix, AZ
Topeka, KS
Houston, TX
Baltimore, MD; Houston, TX;
Emeryville, CA; Elmhust, IL
Alexandria, LA
Cleveland Electric Company
Attachment 1
IN 88-46 July 8, 1988 PRELIMINARY LIST OF CUSTOMERS (INTERMEDIATE SUPPLIERS)
OF SUSPECT ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
Organization
Location
Nuclear Utility
(if available)
Stokley Enterprises
Taylor Electric Company
Graybar
Hughes Aircraft
Houston Electric
Distribution Company
ITE Electrical Products
Knudson Corporation
Georgia Power Company
Norfolk, VA
Portland, OR
Ventura, CA; Atlanta, GA
El Segundo, CA
Houston, TX
Atlanta, GA; Knoxville, TN
Los Angeles, CA
Milledgeville, GA
Attachment 2
July 8, 1988 PRELIMINARY LIST OF ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT
MANUFACTURERS WHOSE NAMES MAY HAVE BEEN USED
ON SURPLUS OR REFURBISHED EOUIPMENT SOLD AS NEW EQUIPMENT
Manufacturer
Model Number
Equipment Description
Square D
General Electric
Exide Company
Spectro Inc.
Bussman Company
Bussman Company
(unknown)
Westinghouse
Westinghouse
Westinghouse
Westinghouse
Westinghouse
Westinghouse
Westinghouse
B19.5; B22
12HGA11S52 NX400
V00014 REN15 NOS-30
FSN 5925-628-0641 DB-50
DB-25 HKB3150T
KB3250F
FB3020
FB3070
FB3050
EHB3040
EHB3025 LBB3125 HKA31250
JA3200
EHB2100
CAH3200
Heater for overload relay
Auxiliary relay
Mercury lamps
15-amp 250-V fuse
30-amp 600-V fuse
Circuit breaker
Trip unit
400-amp circuit breaker
Trip unit
Frame
Circuit breaker
Circuit breaker
Circuit breaker
Circuit breaker
Circuit breaker
Circuit breaker
Trip unit
Circuit breaker
Circuit breaker
Circuit breaker
Attachment 2
July 8, 1988 PRELIMINARY LIST OF ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT
MANUFACTURERS WHOSE NAMES MAY HAVE BEEN USED
ON SURPLUS OR REFURBISHED EQUIPMENT SOLD AS NEW EQUIPMENT
Manufacturer
Model Number
Equipment Description
ITE
General Electric
General Electric
General Electric
ITE
Cutler Hammer
Zinsco/Sylvania
Bryant
Murry
Federal Pacific Electric
Company
225N
EF-3B100
AK-2-75-3 AK-2 AK-1-50
AK-1-75 B; TDQ; TFJ
TCVVFS
100-amp circuit breaker
Circuit breaker
Circuit breaker
Circuit breaker
Circuit breaker
Circuit breakers
Circuit breaker
Circuit breakers
Circuit breakers
Circuit breakers
Circuit breakers
Circuit breakers
Circuit breakers
Attachment 3
July 8, 1988 LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED
NRC INFORMATION NOTICES
Information
Date of
Notice No.
Subject
Issuance
Issued to
88-45
88-44
88-43
88-42
88-41
Problems In Protective
Relay and Circuit
Breaker Coordination
Mechanical Binding of
Spring Release Device
in Westinghouse Type
DS-416 Circuit Breakers
Solenoid Valve Problems
Circuit Breaker Failures
Due to Loose Charging
Spring Motor Mounting Bolts
Physical Protection
Weaknesses Identified
Through Regulatory Ef- fectiveness Reviews (RERs)
Examiners' Handbook for
Developing Operator
Licensing Examinations
LaSalle Unit 2 Loss of
Recirculation Pumps With
Power Oscillation Event
Failure of Undervoltage
Trip Attachment on General
Electric Circuit Breakers
Flow Blockage of Cooling
Water to Safety System
Components
Possible Sudden Loss of RCS
Inventory During Low Coolant
Level Operation
7/7/88
6/24/88
6/23/88
6/23/88
6/22/88
6/22/88
6/15/88
6/15/88
6/14/88
6/8/88
All holders of OLs
or CPs for nuclear
power reactors.
All holders of OLs
or CPs for nuclear
power reactors.
All holders of OLs
or CPs for nuclear
power reactors.
All holders of OLs
or CPs for nuclear
power reactors.
All holders of OLs
or CPs for nuclear
power reactors.
All holders of OLs
or CPs for nuclear
power reactors.
All holders of OLs
All holders of OLs
or CPs for nuclear
power reactors.
All holders of OLs
or CPs for nuclear
power reactors.
All holders of OLs
88-40
88-39
88-38
88-37
88-36 OL = Operating License
CP = Construction Permit
July 8, 1988 NRC is gathering additional information
necessary.
The primary purpose of this
of the situation as soon as possible. '
to followup on this information notice i
to define requirements.
to determine what further actions are
information notice is to alert addressees
The NRC is considering issuing a bulletin
when the NRC has sufficient information
No specific action or written response is required by this information notice.
If you have any questions about this matter, please contact one of the techni- cal contacts listed below or the Regional Administrator of the appropriate
regional office.
Charles E. Rossi, Director
Division of Operational Events Assessment
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Technical Contacts:
K. R.
(301)
Naidu, NRR
492-0980
Jaime Guillen, NRR
(301) 492-1170
Attachments:
1. Preliminary List of Customers (Intermediate Suppliers)
of Suspect Electrical Equipment
2. Preliminary List of Original Equipment Manufacturers
Whose Names May Have Been Used on Surplus or
Refurbished Equipment Sold as New Equipment
3. List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices
- SEE PREVIOUS X
- OG :DOEA:NRR
JGuillen
07/07/88
CONCURRENCES
- C/OGCB:DOEA:NRR
CHBerlinger
07/07/88
- VIB:DRIS:NRR
KRNaidu
07/07/88
- RPB:ARM
TechEd
07/07/88
- SC/VIB:DRIS:NRR
EBaker
07/07/88
- OI
- OGC
WHBriggs
07/07/88
07/07/88
- C/VIB:DRIS:NRR*A/D/DRIS:NRR
EWBrach
BKGrimes
07/07/88
07/07/88
IN 88-XX
July xx, 1988 No specific action or written response is required by this information notice.
If you have any questions about this matter, please contact one of the techni- cal contacts listed below or the Regional Administrator of the appropriate
regional office.
Charles E. Rossi, Director
Division of Operational Events Assessment
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Technical Contacts:
K. R. Naidu, NRR
(301) 492-0980
Jaime Guillen, NRR
(301) 492-1170
Attachments:
1. Preliminary List of Customers (Intermediate Suppliers)
of Suspect Electrical Equipment
2. Preliminary List of Original Equipment Manufacturers
Potentially Affected
3. List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices
- SEE PREVIOUS
D/DOEA:NRR
CERossi
07/ /88
/'U/ OGCB:DOEA:NRR
JGuillen
07/7/88 CONCURRENCE
RI
C/OGCB:DOEE
- RPB:ARM
CHBerlinger
TechEd
07/ /88
07/07/88
- VllB:DRIS:NRR
- SC/VIB:DRIS:NRR
KRNaidu
EBaker
07/07/88
07/07/88
- 01
- OGC
WHBriggs
07/07/88
07/07/88
- C/VIB:DRIS:NRR*A/D/DRIS:NRR
EWBrach
BKGrimes
07/07/88
07/07/88
IN 88-XX
July xx, 1988 No specific action or written response is required by this information notice.
If you have any questions about this matter, please contact one of the techni- cal contacts listed below or the Regional Administrator of the appropriate
regional office..
Charles E. Rossi, Director
Division of Operational Events Assessment
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Technical Contacts:
K. R. Naidu, NRR
(301) 492-0980
Jaime
(301)
Guillen, NRR
492-1170
Attachments:
1. Preliminary List of Customers of Suspect Electrical Equipment
2. Preliminary List of Nuclear Utilities Possibly Receiving Suspect
Electrical Equipment
3. List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices
D/DOEA:NRR
CERossi
07/ /88 OGCB:DOEA:NRR
JGuillen
07/ /88 C/OGCB: DOEA:NRR
CHBerlinger
07/ /88 VIB:DRIS:NRR
KRNaidu
07/ /488 RPB:ARM
TechEd
07/ /88 SC/VIB:DRIS:NRR
EBaker
07/ /88
0I
07/ /88 C/VIB:DRIS:NRR
EWBrach
07/ /88 WH riggs
07/1 /88 A/D/DRIS:NRR
BKGrimes
07/ /88
IN 88-XX
July xx, 1988 "I 1 . i1 No specific action or written response is required by th s/information notice.
If you have any questions about this matter, please contact one of the techni- cal contacts listed below or the legionalldministrator of the appropriate
regional office.
Charles E. Rossi, Director
Division of Operational Events Assessment
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Technical Contacts:
K. R.
(301)
Naidu, NRR
492-0980
Jaime
(301)
Guillen, NRR
492-1170
Attachments:
1. Preliminary List of Customers of Suspect Electrical Equipment
2. Preliminary List of Nuclear Utilities Possibly Receiving Suspect
Electrical Equipment
3. List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices
J
D/DOEA:NRR
CERossi
07/ /88 OGCB:DOEA:NRR
JGuillen
07/ /88 C/OGCB:DOEA:NRR
CHBerlinger
07/ /88 VIB:DRIS:NRR
KRNaidu
07/ /88 PB: ARM
TechEd
07/1 /88 SC/VIB:DRIS:NRR
EBaker
07/ /88
0I
07/ /88 C/VIB:DRIS:NRR
EWBrach
07/ /88 OGC
WHBriggs
07/ /88 A/D/DRIS:NRR
BKGrimes
07/ /88
IN 88-XX
July xx, 1988 No specific action or written response is required by this information notice.
If you have any questions about this matter, please contact one of the techni- cal contacts listed below or the Regional Administrator of the appropriate
regional office.
Charles E. Rossi, Director
Division of Operational Events Assessment
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Technical Contacts:
K. R. Naidu, NRR
(301) 492-0980
Jaime Guillen, NRR
(301) 492-1170
Attachments:
1. Preliminary List of Customers of Suspect Electrical Equipment
2. Preliminary List of Nuclear Utilities Possibly Receiving Suspect
Electrical Equipment
3. List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices
D/DOEA:NRR
CERossi
07/ /88 OGCB:DOEA:NRR
JGuillen
07/ /88 C/OGCB:DOEA:Nf
CHBerlinger
07/ 188 VIB 4 W.NRR
KRRffu
i 7/7 /88 RR
RPB:ARM
TechEd
07/ /88 SC/V
IS:
EBXM
A 7/7 /88 OGC
WHBriggs
07/A/ 8 A/l/)R S:NRR
-
8