An investigation of the effects of thermal aging on the fire damageability of electric cables

Technical Report · Wed May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1991

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5666989· OSTI ID:5666989

Nowlen, S P ^[1]

---

1. Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA)

This report documents the findings of an experimental investigation of the effects of thermal aging on the fire damageability of electric cables. Two popular types of nuclear qualified cables were evaluated. For each cable type, both unaged (i.e., new off the reel) and thermally aged samples were exposed to steady-state elevated temperature environments until conductor-to-conductor electrical shorting was observed. Plots of the time to electrical failure versus the exposure temperature were developed and thermal damage thresholds were determined. For one cable type, the thermally aged cables were less vulnerable to thermal damage than were the unaged samples as demonstrated by an increase in the thermal damage threshold for the aged samples, and an extended survival time at exposure temperatures above the damage threshold for aged samples compared to unaged samples. For the second cable, the threshold of thermal damage was lowered somewhat by the aging process, an indication of an increased vulnerability to thermal damage due to aging. However, for the higher temperature exposures, no statistical difference between the damage times for aged and unaged cable samples was noted. For both cable types, the changes in the thermal damage threshold observed were not considered significant in terms of fire risk. 4 refs., 9 figs., 8 tabs.

• Research Organization: US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), Washington, DC (United States). Div. of Engineering; Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USNRC; Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76DP00789
• OSTI ID: 5666989
• Report Number(s): NUREG/CR-5546; SAND-90-0696; ON: TI91013660
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
ELECTRIC CABLES
AGING
THERMAL DEGRADATION
NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
DAMAGE
ELECTRICAL INSULATION
FAILURES
FIRES
REACTOR SAFETY
VULNERABILITY
CABLES
CONDUCTOR DEVICES
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
POWER PLANTS
SAFETY
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
220900* - Nuclear Reactor Technology- Reactor Safety
220200 - Nuclear Reactor Technology- Components & Accessories