ML20134B895

Informs That on 960808,criticality Warning Sys Failed. Caused by Amplifier Failure of Parallel Cicuitry.Suspended Operations & Halted Movement of Fissile Matl in All Affected Areas & Removed Personnel from Affected Areas

ML20134B895
Person / Time
Site:	07001113
Issue date:	09/04/1996
From:	Reda R GENERAL ELECTRIC CO.
To:	NRC OFFICE OF INFORMATION RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (IRM)
References
NUDOCS 9609100151
Download: ML20134B895 (3)

Text

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U GE Nuclear Energy

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'96 S. I9 September 4,1996

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U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Document Control Desk Washington, D.C. 20555-0001

Subject:

30-Day Report ofincident - Criticality Warninn System Failure

References:

(1) Doci t 70-Ill3,NRQ License SNM-1097 t

(2) NRC Regulation 10 CFR 70.50 In accordance with 10 CFR 70.50(c)(2), GE Nuclear Energy Production hereby submits the required written report for an August 8,1996 incident involving a temporary failure of 6 criticality warning system horns. This incident was reported by telephone on August 9,1996, by Lon Paulson to the NRC Operations Center in accordance with 10 CFR 70.50(b)(4).

On August 8,1996, at approximately 7:30 a.m.,it was discovered that three of the criticality warning system homs were inoperable within the fuel manufacturing operation. Subsequent testing revealed three additional inoperable horns. Operations were immediately suspended, and movement of fissile material was halted in all affected areas. The system was repaired and tested, and normal operations resumed on August 8,1996, at approximately 6:20 p.m.

The event was reported within 24 hours2.777778e-4 days <br />0.00667 hours <br />3.968254e-5 weeks <br />9.132e-6 months <br /> pursuant to 10 CFR 70.50(b)(2) as a failure of equipment required by regulation to be available and operable to mitigate the consequences of an accident.

There were no personnel exposures.to radiation or radioactive materials, nor were there releases oflicensed material as a result of this event.

The investigation results, along with corrective actions, are summarized in Attachment 1. The investigation determined that the failure occurred in the Autocall system manufactured by Federal Signal (model no. D5290-003). Two inoperable ampliF.crs (model no. D5290-023) were identified and replaced.

If additional information is needed regarding the event, I can be contacted at (910) 675-5889.

Sincerely, GE NUCLEAR ENERG

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9609100151 960904 R. J. Reda, Manager ADOCK 0700 3

$DR Fuels & Facility Licensing 7

fl Attachment cc: RJR-96-102 S. D. Ebneter, Region 11 Administrator

7 Att:chmelt I REPORTABLE EVENT 08/08/96 EVENT FAILURE OF SIX CRITICALITY WARNING SYSTEM (CWS) llORNS e

IN T11E FUEL MANUFACTURING OPERATION.

CAUSE AMPLIFIER FAILURE ON PARALLEL CIRCUITRY.

CORRECTIVE ACTIONS SUSPENDED OPERATIONS AND IIALTED MOVEMENT OF FISSILE MATERIAL IN ALL AFFECTED AREAS.

j REMOVED PERSONNEL FROM ALL AFFECTED AREAS.

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e DIAGNOSED, REPAIRED AND FUNCTIONALLY TESTED THE CWS.

l ADDITIONAL ACTIONS TO PREVENT RECURRENCE EVALUATE AND DOCUMENT REDUNDANT HORN AUDIBILITY e

COVERAGE.

EVALUATE IMPROVEMENTS TO TIIE ROUTINE FUNCTIONAL TEST OF IIORNS.

UPDATE ALL DRAWINGS OF CWS IIORN CIRCUITRY.

AMM 9/3/96 m \\ntc\\hrc\\evnt 3 doc