Protecting People and the EnvironmentUNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
UNITED STATES
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555
February 24, 1989
Information Notice No. 89-20: WELD FAILURES IN A PUMP OF BYRON-JACKSON
DESIGN
Addressees:
All holders of operating licenses or construction permits for nuclear power
reactors.
Purpose:
This information notice alerts addressees to weld failures in a primary loop
recirculation pump of Byron-Jackson design experienced by owners of boiling
water reactors (BWRs) in a foreign country. It is expected that recipients
will review the information for applicability to their facilities and consider
actions, as appropriate, to avoid similar problems. However, suggestions con-
tained in this information notice do not constitute NRC requirements;
therefore, no specific action or written response is required.
Description of Circumstances:
The following information is related to boiling water reactors; however, the
nature of the weld failures was such that potentially all pumps of similar
design could be affected.
1. In 1984, a foreign BWR experienced a failure in the attachment
weld of a ring that surrounds the bearing housing component of
a pump manufactured by Byron-Jackson but fabricated and assembled
by a foreign company. The power company operating the BWR per-
formed repairs using fillet welds applied at the failed locations.
During inspections in 1988 cracks were found at the same weld
locations in both recirculation pumps. The repair involved ap-
plying full penetration butt welds with some axial realignment
of the ring.
2. Similar problems were recently reported at another BWR plant in
the same country in which the first event took place. Significant
vibration was observed during a normal end-of-cycle coastdown for
annual maintenance. The plant was immediately shut down for
inspection. It was found that the ring and impeller had broken,
and some fasteners were found in various sections of the recircu-
lation loop.
8902170112
. IN 89-20
February 24, 1989
Page 2 of 2
3. As a result of the 1984 and 1988 incidents, owners of BWRs in the
foreign country began a program of inspection and repair using the
full penetration welds and realignment of the ring. The unit that
experienced the broken ring and impeller had not yet been inspected
for deficiencies in the welding before the failure occurred. As a
result of the failure, one of seven other units of a similar power
level was shut down because it had not been inspected or repaired.
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
technical 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: N. Prasad Kadambi, NRR
(301) 492-1153
P. T. Kuo, NRR
(301) 492-0907
Attachment: List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices
. Attachment
IN 89-20
February 24, 1989
Page 1 of 1
LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED
NRC INFORMATION NOTICES
_____________________________________________________________________________
Information Date of
Notice No._____Subject_______________________Issuance_______Issued to________
89-19 Health Physics Network 2/23/89 All holders of OLs
or CPs for nuclear
power reactors, and
the following fuel
facilities:
Nuclear Fuel
Services of Erwin,
General Atomic, UNC
Montville, B&W LRC
Lynchburg, and B&W
Lynchburg.
89-18 Criminal Prosecution of 2/22/89 All holders of OLs
Wrongdoing Committed by or CPs for nuclear
Suppliers of Nuclear power reactors.
Products or Services
89-17 Contamination and Degra- 2/22/89 All holders of OLs
dation of Safety-Related or CPs for nuclear
Battery Cells power reactors.
89-16 Excessive Voltage Drop 2/16/89 All holders of OLs
in dc Systems or CPs for nuclear
power reactors.
89-15 Second Reactor Coolant Pump 2/16/89 All holders of OLs
Shaft Failure at Crystal or CPs for nuclear
River power reactors.
89-14 Inadequate Dedication 2/16/89 All holders of OLs
Process for Commercial or CPs for nuclear
Grade Components Which power reactors.
Could Lead to Common Mode
Failure of a Safety System
89-13 Alternative Waste Management 2/8/89 All holders of NRC
Procedures in Case of Denial specific licenses.
of Access to Low-Level Waste
Disposal Sites
89-12 Dose Calibrator Quality 2/9/89 All NRC medical
Control licensees.
_____________________________________________________________________________
OL = Operating License
CP = Construction Permit
..
