Headquarters Daily Report MARCH 26, 1998 *************************************************************************** REPORT NEGATIVE NO INPUT ATTACHED INPUT RECEIVED RECEIVED HEADQUARTERS û REGION I û REGION II û REGION III û REGION IV û PRIORITY ATTENTION REQUIRED MORNING REPORT - HEADQUARTERS MARCH 26, 1998 Licensee/Facility: Notification: MR Number: H-98-0056 Proposed Generic Communication Date: 03/26/98 Subject: NRC Information Notice Concerning FBI "Awareness of National Security Issues and Response (ANSIR) Program Discussion: The NRC intends to issue an Information Notice that advises of the availability to certain non-US Government security managers of unclassified information regarding security-related matters. The proposed notice, "FBI Awareness of National Security Issues and Response (ANSIR) Program", discusses how fuel cycle and reactor licensees may participate in the FBI-sponsored and managed activity. Contact: Robert Benedict, NRR (301) 415-1157 Email: rab1@nrc.gov John Davidson, NMSS (301) 415-8130 Email: jjd@nrc.gov _ HEADQUARTERS MORNING REPORT PAGE 2 MARCH 26, 1998 Licensee/Facility: Notification: MR Number: H-98-0057 Turbine Governor Valve Stem Binding Date: 03/26/98 Subject: Update on RCIC turbine governor valve stem binding (MR H-9700158 dated December 22, 1997) Discussion: On March 25, 1998, Dresser-Rand submitted a Part 21 report (EN 33958) on thermal expansion and tolerance problems discovered for turbine governor valve stems. Governor valve stems made of Inconel-718 material will expand more than the original 410 stainless steel stems for the same temperature rise. Valve assemblies exhibit binding at operating temperatures even when they stroke freely on assembly. This condition results in loss of governor control. In MR H-97-0158, problems that may have been related to this finding were discussed for Hope Creek, Limerick, and Perry. The Dresser-Rand Part 21 report states that all reported control problems have been traced to valve stems manufactured by BW/IP. The BW/IP manufacturing drawing allows for a stem diameter varying from 0.4980 inch to 0.5000 inch, and the Dresser-Rand drawings allow for a variance from 0.4985 inch to 0.4990 inch. Any Inconel stem with a diameter greater than 0.4988 inch is susceptible to interference with the carbon washers at temperatures above 500 degrees F and could result in turbine control problems. The performance of the Dresser-Rand Inconel stems with the carbon spacers is marginal at elevated temperatures with the maximum safe operating temperature being well below 600 degrees F. As stated in MR H-97-0158, the NRC is considering issuance of an information notice on this topic. Similar interference problems were considered previously in IN 94-66, "Overspeed of Turbine-Driven Pumps Caused by Governor Valve Stem Binding," on September 19, 1994, and in Supplement 1 issued on June 16, 1995. In 1995, the Terry Turbine Users Group recommended using stem material that is not susceptible to corrosion, such as gas-nitrided steel or Inconel. The staff has been working with the Terry Turbine Users Group to develop data for this information notice. Contact: Vern Hodge, NRR (301) 415-1861 Email cvh@nrc.gov _