LOCA testing of damaged cables

Conference · Thu Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1992

OSTI ID:10142867

Vigil, R A ^[1]; Jacobus, M J; Nelson, C F ^[2]

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1. Science and Engineering Associates, Inc., Albuquerque, NM (United States)
2. Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (United States)

Experiments were conducted to assess the effects of dielectric withstand voltage testing of cables and to assess the survivability of aged and damaged cables under loss-of-coolant accident (LOCA) conditions. High potential testing at 240 Vdc/mil on undamaged cables suggested that no damage was incurred on the selected cables. During aging and LOCA testing, Okonite ethylene propylene rubber cables with a bonded jacket experienced unexpected failures. The failures appear to be primarily related to the level of thermal aging. For Brand Rex crosslinked polyolefin cables, the results suggest that 8 mils of insulation remaining should give the cables a high probability of surviving accident exposure following aging. The voltage levels necessary to detect when 8 mils of insulation remain are expected to be roughly 40 kVdc. This voltage level would almost certainly be unacceptable to a utility for use as a damage assessment tool. Although two Rockbestos silicone rubber cables failed during the accident test, the induced wall thickness did not seem to be the major cause of the failures. It appears likely that under less stressful thermal aging conditions, the cables would survive accident testing with as little as 4 mils or less of insulation remaining.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: Electric Power Research Inst., Palo Alto, CA (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76DP00789
• OSTI ID: 10142867
• Report Number(s): SAND--92-2916C; CONF-930254--4; ON: DE93009859
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
220200
220900
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360606
42 ENGINEERING
420500
AGING
COMPONENTS AND ACCESSORIES
DAMAGE
DIELECTRIC MATERIALS
DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES
ELECTRIC CABLES
ELECTRICAL INSULATION
ELECTRICAL TESTING
ETHYLENE PROPYLENE DIENE POLYMERS
LOSS OF COOLANT
MATERIALS TESTING
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTOR SAFETY
RUBBERS
THICKNESS