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Quantification and Prediction of Nuclear Cable Polymer Degradation


EMSL Project ID
50113

Abstract

With hundreds of miles of electrical cables connecting power, safety and communication functions within each nuclear plant, cable systems represent a key component of safe and sustainable nuclear power. Replacement of cables installed during initial plant construction is not trivial and can be economically prohibitive. Cables were initially qualified to safely perform for the forty years of plant license to operate. Most U.S. reactors have been approved for license renewal to operate up to sixty years and older plants are contemplating seeking second license renewal for up to eighty of operation. Long term operation of reactor components including cable systems is therefore demanding better understanding of material aging and technique to monitor material condition. This project seeks to increase the understanding of changes in polymer cable insulation and jacketing materials with exposure of cables to stressors such as elevated temperature, moisture, and gamma radiation over time. Improved predictive understanding of cable material degradation performance will support economic and regulatory decisions for existing nuclear power, as well as material use decisions for future nuclear power plant construction. This research on predictive understanding and measuring of polymer aging is primarily sponsored by the Office of Nuclear Energy’s Light Water Reactor Sustainability (LWRS) Program Material Aging and Degradation Pathway. Researchers are investigating mechanisms of environmental degradation of nuclear power plant electrical cable and cable insulation, as well methods to measure, model, monitor and mitigate cable degradation.

Project Details

Start Date
2017-11-16
End Date
2018-09-30
Status
Closed

Team

Principal Investigator

Leonard Fifield
Institution
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Co-Investigator(s)

Yongsoon Shin
Institution
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory