Physics-Based Probabilistic Model of the Effects of Ionizing Radiation on Polymeric Insulators of Electric Cables used in Nuclear Power Plants
- Univ. of California, Los Angeles, CA (United States); University of California, Los Angeles
- Univ. of Maryland, College Park, MD (United States)
- Univ. of California, Los Angeles, CA (United States)
- U.S. Dept. of Energy, Washington, D.C. (United States)
This report describes the results of a 3-year project aimed at developing a probabilistic predictive model of degradation of insulation of cables installed in nuclear power plants where heat and radiation are two major environmental stressors. The developed models have been developed based on exploring fundamental physical and chemical processes involved and validated by experimental data from open literature and data collected from experiments conducted as part of this study.
The report comprises of two parts: Volume I and Volume II. In Volume I, degradation of three most widely-used insulation materials, cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE or PEX), ethylene propylene rubber (EPR), and silicone rubber (SIR) are discussed. Based on the identified degradation mechanisms and kinetics of the cable insulation, physics-based models have been proposed to quantitatively define and predict the degree of the degradation for functional failures of concern. Various sets of experimental data from the literature were used to help understand the phenomenon involved and to validate the models developed. Further validations were performed with data collected from experiments conducted as part of the research project.
Methods and results of the experimental work are detailed in Volume II. These experimental results were found to be consistent with data reported in the literature and support the proposed models. The models developed here can probabilistically predict the lifetime of the cable insulation used in nuclear power plants.
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of California, Los Angeles, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE)
- DOE Contract Number:
- NE0008399
- OSTI ID:
- 1497835
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/NEUP--15-8258; 15-8258
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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