Faire un don

Des accidents nucléaires partout

Etats-Unis : WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC CORPORATION : une vanne classée pour la sûreté n’a pas fonctionnée comme prévu




29 avril 2015


La vanne ayant son ressort cassé, elle ne serait pas revenue dans sa position initiale après avoir été sollicité. Bien que la chaîne soit en l’arrêt pour maintenance et inventaire, l’unité de traitement des eaux usées était en cours. Dès la découverte du problème, les unités de traitement ont été arrêtées. La fonction de sûreté de ces vannes est d’isoler un reflux d’uranium 235 vers les eaux usées. Une autre vanne restait disponible pour assurer la sûreté mais cette sûreté est passée de hautement improbable (Probabilité de défaillance passée de 10E-4) à improbable (10 E-3) La vanne a été remplacée et testée.

Available in english only


Event Number : 51024

Facility : WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC CORPORATION

RX Type : URANIUM FUEL FABRICATION

Comments : LEU CONVERSION (UF6 to UO2) COMMERCIAL LWR FUEL

City : COLUMBIA State : SC

License # : SNM-1107 Agreement : Y Docket : 07001151

Event Date : 04/29/2015 - Event Time : 10:00

Emergency Class : NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section : PART 70 APP A (b)(2) - LOSS OR DEGRADED SAFETY ITEMS

Event Text

VALVE CLASSIFIED AS ITEM RELIED ON FOR SAFETY FAILED TO OPERATE AS DESIGNED

"On April 29, 2015 at 1000 [EDT], it was reported to EH&S [Environmental Health and Safety] that the spring loaded valve on the deionized (DI) water line, which supplies rinse water to an in-line gamma monitor in the conversion scrap recovery area, was found to have the spring-return damaged such that the valve would not automatically return to the closed position when released. This valve is listed as IROFS ADUSCRA-102. While production activities had already ceased in preparation for a Special Nuclear Material (SNM) inventory and planned maintenance outage, liquid wastewater processing activities were on-going.

"Liquid wastewater processing activities were immediately stopped, and EH&S was notified of the event by phone and the ’Redbook’ reporting system (Redbook Issue #68460). At no time was there any actual or potential health and safety consequences to the workers, the public, or the environment.

"The safety function of this IROFS is to automatically close when released by hand to prevent possible backflow of Uranium-235 containing wastewater into the DI water supply and potentially to an unfavorable geometry tank. During this time, IROFS ADUSCRP-153, a three-way valve that prevents the commingling of wastewater and DI water, remained available and reliable to prevent potential backflow of the wastewater into the DI water supply. Based on available IROFS, this accident sequence was ’Unlikely’ (a failure probability of 10E-3), and not ’Highly Unlikely’ (a failure probability of 10E-4 or less), and therefore does not meet the performance requirements of 10 CFR 70.61 [which requires that an accident sequence be ’Highly Unlikely’]. The actual configuration remained safe at all times, and no external conditions affected the event. A process upset would have to occur to enable a potential backflow condition, and the remaining IROFS would have had to simultaneously fail.

"Immediate Corrective Actions :

As stated above, the process was shut down, and the upstream DI water valve was locked closed. After evaluation and with EH&S approval, maintenance replaced the valve and a functional test was completed. The event was reviewed in the conversion huddle meetings held before the start of each shift, and operations initiated a check to validate the operability of the spring loaded valve after each use until a long term corrective action is in place. Operating Experience is being shared with the site and industry personnel.

"An Extent of Condition inspection was performed for all safety-significant spring loaded valves. All other valves functioned properly.

"This event has been entered into the facility Corrective Action Prevention And Learning system (CAPAL) #100267824."

https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/event-status/event/2015/20150508en.html#en51024


La surveillance des installations nucléaires au quotidien ? C’est grâce à vos dons que nous pouvons la mener !
Pour surveiller au jour le jour les incidents dans les installations nucléaires, les décrypter et dénoncer les risques permanents qui sont trop souvent minimisés - voire cachés par les exploitants, nous mobilisons tout au long de l’année des moyens humains et techniques.
Pour continuer ce travail de lanceur d’alerte et donner, au plus proche de leur survenue, des informations sur les inquiétants dysfonctionnements d’un parc nucléaire vieillissant, nous avons besoin de votre soutien financier !

Faire un don