Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 6.2
Benefi ts of a cable ageing management solution to LWR nuclear plants
Current cable maintenance
Cable ageing maintenance program
•
Reactive
•
Periodic, proactive
•
Manual testing
•
Manual and automated testing
•
Requires access to the cable
•
Some tests may be performed
remotely
•
Typically tests for the cause of
problems after they have occurred
•
Detects cable ageing problems
early to allow for scheduled
maintenance
•
Problems may lead to plant
shutdowns
•
Early detection may prevent
shutdowns
Analysis and Measurement Services (AMS) Corp. of the United States is
developing methods to 'calibrate' results from classical testing methods so
they can be categorized, evaluated consistently, and if necessary improved.
Correlations between measurable parameters and the health and condition
of the cable using classical ageing tests such as the elongation at break (EAB)
test would be identifi ed. The classical tests would then be integrated with
promising new cable testing technologies, such as the wireless AgeAlert™
micro-sensors (AMS Corp., 2010) (see Table 6.3). Testing methods are then
categorized according to their capability to show a particular fault, faults
or developing cable conditions that indicate degraded performance (see
Fig. 6.2). These tests are performed using laboratory and plant-aged cables
of the types found in nuclear power plants.
The correlations between the changes measured by the various methods
and condition or age of the cable will form the foundation of a database
that will be the core of the integrated cable testing and analysis system
(AMS Corp., 2010). This database would contain the information to provide
default confi guration settings for the various devices that could be tested,
optimized data acquisition parameters for the equipment under test, control
of data acquisition hardware, and the ability to analyze and store the results
of the testing. The program for the AMS integrated cable testing practice
would incorporate eleven different modules (see Fig. 6.3): user interface;
test lead compensation; test data acquisition; data storage; data qualifi ca-
tion; data review; statistical analysis; historical data trending; similar equip-
ment data comparison; report generation; default equipment setting (AMS
Corp., 2010 ).
The result will be a user-friendly and technically feasible solution for
examining low- and medium-voltage plant cables and wiring to determine
their ageing condition and residual life (AMS Corp., 2010).
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