Condition assessment of cable insulation materials in advanced reactor environments

Journal Article · Mon Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 2022 · Progress in Nuclear Energy

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pnucene.2022.104341· OSTI ID:1977585

Ferree, Codi R. ^[1]; Ward, Patrick R. ^[2]; Toll, Trevor A. ^[2]

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1. AMS Corporation, Knoxville, TN (United States); OSTI
2. AMS Corporation, Knoxville, TN (United States)

While existing cable insulation materials are sufficient for use in the current reactor fleet, environmental conditions inside some advanced reactors, such as small modular reactors, will be substantially harsher. The work herein was conducted to assess the performance and overall survivability of several high-temperature, radiation resistant insulation polymers in a simulated small modular reactor environment. The materials evaluated under this research include polyether ether ketone, polyimide, and silicone rubber. These polymers were subjected to 1000 h of environmental stress exposure under two different conditions: 1) high temperature (i.e., 250 °C) in atmospheric pressure and 2) high temperature in a low-pressure vacuum (i.e., less than 2 psia). During the environmental exposure process, each insulation was periodically tested using several materials characterization techniques including Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, oxidation induction time, and oxidation induction temperature. The objective of this testing was to assess and monitor changes that occurred in the thermal and chemical properties of the materials during the environmental exposures. The overall survivability of each insulation was assessed based on these property changes. The results of this research revealed that the polyimide and polyether ether ketone insulations had significantly better thermal and chemical stability than the silicone rubber during both the high-temperature atmospheric and vacuum exposures. Both polyimide and polyether ether ketone experienced minimal reductions in their chemical and thermal properties over the course of 1000 h in the simulated environments. Finally, based on this research, polyimide and polyether ether ketone show promise as potential base materials for small modular reactor cable insulation.

• Research Organization: Analysis and Measurement Services Corporation, Knoxville, TN (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE); USDOE Office of Science (SC)
• Grant/Contract Number: SC0011859
• OSTI ID: 1977585
• Journal Information: Progress in Nuclear Energy, Journal Name: Progress in Nuclear Energy Journal Issue: C Vol. 151; ISSN 0149-1970
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
Advanced reactors
Insulation condition monitoring
Materials testing
Nuclear power
Polymer degradation/oxidation
Vacuum