PNNL

Abstract

Nuclear energy has supplied one fifth of the electricity generation in the United States for the last thirty years, but headwinds for continued contribution of nuclear to the US energy mix include the aging state of existing plants and the challenge of remaining cost competitive with energy alternative such as natural gas. As an integral component of the power, control and safety operations of a nuclear power plant, electrical cables are a significant factor in both long term and resource-efficient plant operation. The cost and practical challenge of wholesale replacement of the thousands of miles of cables in each reactor make effective management of the existing cable inventory increasingly important as the cables age in service. Total generation costs for US nuclear reactors have increased in the last decade, due in part to safety and security upgrades. Passive, long-lived structures, systems and components may be subject to aging-related degradation, necessitating increase frequency of inspection and repair/replace decisions. Costs associated with cable aging management in long-term operation can be reduced with effective cable condition monitoring technology and sufficient understanding of material aging behavior. Technical basis for confidence in cable status can reduce the frequency of cable system inspections and align cable replacement decisions with physical need. Knowledge of cable remaining useful life can allow longer term cable maintenance planning and fewer unplanned outages. As methods for relating measurable key indicators of aging with cable status develop, industry has begun to demonstrate how informed cable aging management can help to minimize costs necessary for safe, long-term operation.