Distributed Antenna System For Wireless Data Communications In Nuclear Power Plants
This is the final report of a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) project that Analysis and Measurement Services Corporation (AMS) conducted for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) over a four-year period from June 12, 2017, to August 26, 2021. The primary goal of this two-phase research and development (R&D) effort was to help facilitate the widespread adoption of wireless technologies in nuclear power plants (NPPs) by implementing distributed antenna systems along with other wireless systems and sensors. The knowledge gained from this R&D project, along with the hardware and software that was developed, assists in updating the industry guidance for deploying wireless technology and can help promote the widespread use of wireless devices for various applications into today’s nuclear plant environment. Phase II of this project was successfully completed over a three-year period meeting its technical objectives to identify system components and installation practices that should be used when implementing a distributed antenna system in a nuclear power plant with the goal of maximizing wireless signal coverage and performance, minimizing electromagnetic and radio frequency interference (EMI/RFI), and addressing wireless coexistence and other installation considerations. A major portion of the Phase II research and development (R&D) was the hardware and software development to characterize wireless signals and their various modulation techniques. Under this project AMS developed a software called Wireless Digital Data Analysis (WDDA) that uses vector signal transceivers (VSTs) to modulate and demodulate wireless signals. This hardware and software package is a tool for obtaining quantitative signal quality measurements of wireless communication. The WDDA system has the ability use two VSTs that communicate wirelessly and determine if the area has any interference or issues that could impede the transmission of wireless signals. This establishes if a wireless system has a healthy environment for wireless networks or could help troubleshoot already installed wireless systems that are having communication issues. Aside from physical wireless communications, nuclear power plants have many other considerations to evaluate when wireless technology is being implemented. One of the most important is that plants must ensure that these wireless systems do not interfere with existing plant systems. EMI, RFI, and exclusion zone distances are some of the other factors that must be considered. Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) testing is a way to determine if plant systems have EMI/RFI vulnerabilities and if wireless signals can affect the plant’s operation. EMC testing is typically performed in a lab environment however, most test can also be performed with field testing when the system is not in use. After plant system’s EMI/RFI weaknesses are exposed exclusion zone distances can be calculated determined.
- Research Organization:
- Analysis and Measurement Services Corporation
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC)
- DOE Contract Number:
- SC0017780
- OSTI ID:
- 1837065
- Type / Phase:
- SBIR (Phase II)
- Report Number(s):
- DOE2110R0
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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