Evaluation of the Broadband Impedance Spectroscopy Prognostic/Diagnostic Technique for Electric Cables Used in Nuclear Power Plants (NUREG/CR-6904)
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Publication Information
Manuscript Completed: November 2005
Date Published: June 2006
Prepared by:
D. Rogovin1, R. Lofaro2
1 The Boeing Company
Huntington Beach, CA 92647
2 Brookhaven National Laboratory
Upton, NY 11973-5000
J. Vora, NRC Project Manager
Prepared for:
Division of Fuel, Engineering and Radiological Research
Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Washington, DC 20555-0001
NRC Job Code Y6410
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Abstract
Aging mechanisms can lead to degradation of electric cables and resultant failures of critical functions, as well as losses of essential information for the decision-making process. Consequently, it would be highly desirable to have a single universally effective prognostic, diagnostic technique that can be used in situ to monitor the condition and predict the remaining useful life of installed electric cables of all types, in operating nuclear power plant applications and environments.
To address this issue, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research (RES), in collaboration with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Boeing Company, initiated a research study to evaluate the effectiveness of the broadband impedance spectroscopy (BIS) technique for use in nuclear power plant cable diagnostics and condition monitoring. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of this nonintrusive, nondestructive technique, which uses low-voltage signals at varying frequencies to scan the length of an installed cable system to locate anomalies and degradation. Based upon this study's promising results, RES is considering follow-on collaborative research to demonstrate the effectiveness of the BIS technique in operating nuclear power plant environments.
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