80
An
Electrical Condition Monitoring Approach for Wire and Cable--BPW
Incorporated, 372 River Drive, Dahlonega, GA
30533-5248; 757-850-8679
Mr.
Kenneth S. Watkins, Jr., Principal Investigator, kwatkins@alltel.net
Mr.
Shelby J. Morris Jr., Business Official, jmorris4@attglobal.net
DOE
Grant No. DE-FG02-01ER83153
Amount:
$98,170
Generation IV nuclear power plants will require
comprehensive and cost-effective methods for monitoring plant wire and cable.
Current methods primarily focus on correlating mechanical or chemical laboratory
measurements of samples retrieved from installed wire and cable in the plant
with acceleration-aged data. However,
physical access to samples is often difficult and time-intensive, and laboratory
testing is expensive. This project
will develop technology for correlating an in situ electrical measurement
to the age-related degradation of the insulation to provide an indication of the
remaining cable life. Phase I will show the feasibility of the monitoring
approach by performing acceleration-age tests of conductive composites of
candidate insulation materials. Correlation
of electrical changes with age and known mechanical and chemical effects will
provide an indication of the remaining lifetime of the insulation material.
Commercial Applications And Other Benefits as described by awardee: An electrical in situ approach should take cable condition monitoring from the laboratory into the field, resulting in reduced cost compared to present methods. Also, eliminating sample retrieval would improve personnel and equipment safety, and allow the condition monitoring of otherwise inaccessible areas. This approach should also have application to monitoring the remaining life of other polymeric materials such as seals, gaskets, and structural components.