Distributed Antenna System for Wireless Data Communication in Nuclear Power Plants
This Phase I project was successfully completed by Analysis and Measurement Services (AMS) over a nine-month period meeting its seven technical objectives to establish the feasibility of deploying a distributed antenna system (DAS) in an operating nuclear power plant (NPP) and address obstacles related to electromagnetic and radio frequency interference (EMI/RFI), installation and implementation, and environmental and aging effects on DAS signal performance. A major portion of the Phase I research and development (R&D) effort was the laboratory experimentation of commercially available radiating cables for DAS. The cables were selected based on their technical specifications and the requirements of the nuclear industry. During Phase I, AMS conducted baseline testing of the DAS cables and measured the material properties of the cable jackets and dielectric/insulation materials. Subsequently, the cables were subjected to accelerated thermal aging and other degradation mechanisms to establish their long-term survivability and resilience to environmental stressors and harsh plant conditions. Several cable samples were bent, cut, and damaged to measure the impact on radio frequency (RF) performance of improper handling and installation of the cables and to test the ability of AMS cable condition monitoring techniques to locate the damage along the cable length. In addition, a commercial grade DAS was provided to AMS at no cost for study under this Phase I project. Using this DAS in the AMS laboratory, it was also shown that a DAS radiating cable can be installed in a plant environment near sensitive equipment such as instrumentation and control (I&C) sensors as long as either an exclusion zone is established or RF measurements are made to ensure that the DAS cable is not transmitting high-power RF signals that may affect the sensitive plant equipment. An important advantage to using DAS radiating cable technology is that the radiating cable can be either routed to bypass sensitive areas in the plant or modified to prevent its radiation along particular sections of the cable. As a result of the laboratory testing under this Phase I effort, AMS has successfully demonstrated the feasibility of DAS technology for deployment in NPPs and established best practices for the installation, operation, and maintenance of DAS radiating cables. AMS also demonstrated through laboratory experiments that a software defined radio (SDR) universal wireless transmitter is capable of accepting various types of analog inputs and wirelessly transmitting the information over a DAS. The SDR capability can be used in a Phase II to change the frequency/protocol of operation of the wireless transmitter to avoid signal congestion. Based upon discussions with NPP personnel, there exists a need within the nuclear industry for an easily-deployable and cost-effective wireless transmitter that is capable of operating at sub-1 GHz frequencies. The Phase II project, if awarded, will build on the success of the Phase I and provide the nuclear power industry with guidance for the implementation of DAS technology and the development of a universal wireless transmitter to meet their needs. Consequently, this technology will lead to improved plant operations and maintenance and directly support the U.S. nuclear industry’s strategic plan, Delivering the Nuclear Promise, to keep nuclear power competitive while maintaining safety.
- Research Organization:
- Analysis & Measurement Services Corporation
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC)
- DOE Contract Number:
- SC0017780
- OSTI ID:
- 1429264
- Type / Phase:
- SBIR (Phase I)
- Report Number(s):
- DOE180301R0-F
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Distributed Antenna System For Wireless Data Communications In Nuclear Power Plants
Development of an In-Situ Method for Cable Condition Monitoring in Nuclear Power Plants (SBIR Phase IIB Final Report)