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Determination of Activation Energies for Nuclear Electrical Cable Insulation Using Density and Total Color Difference

Electrical cables are critical components of nuclear power plants (NPPs) that ensure their safe operation. In use they are exposed to a wide range of environmental stresses, such as elevated temperature, gamma radiation, moisture, and electrical stress. Among the different environmental stresses, elevated temperature leads to the thermo-oxidative degradation of electrical cable insulation, which may cause early failure of electrical cables and subsequently lead to unplanned plant shutdowns, electrical transients, and/or a loss of safety redundancy.

Product Number: ED22-17336-SG
Author: D.Li, Y.Ni, A.Zwoster, M.R. Pallaka, M.Spencer, L.S. Fifield
Publication Date: 2022
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Activation energies at different endpoints representing a specific extent of thermal-oxidative aging of nuclear electrical cable insulation were calculated to compare degradation kinetics at various aging temperatures (110 °C, 121 °C, 136 °C, and 150 °C). Density and total color difference were measured at each aging time point for an ethylene-propylene rubber (EPR) cable insulation to calculate activation energy. Endpoints were chosen as absolute values that were in the range of property change (density or total color difference) during degradation. The time to a defined endpoint for each temperature was used via classical Arrhenius analysis to estimate the activation energy (Ea), similar to the process historically used by cable manufacturers to qualify electrical cables for use in nuclear power plants. The estimated Ea with standard deviation was reported by extrapolating time to endpoint for temperatures not directly tested.

Activation energies at different endpoints representing a specific extent of thermal-oxidative aging of nuclear electrical cable insulation were calculated to compare degradation kinetics at various aging temperatures (110 °C, 121 °C, 136 °C, and 150 °C). Density and total color difference were measured at each aging time point for an ethylene-propylene rubber (EPR) cable insulation to calculate activation energy. Endpoints were chosen as absolute values that were in the range of property change (density or total color difference) during degradation. The time to a defined endpoint for each temperature was used via classical Arrhenius analysis to estimate the activation energy (Ea), similar to the process historically used by cable manufacturers to qualify electrical cables for use in nuclear power plants. The estimated Ea with standard deviation was reported by extrapolating time to endpoint for temperatures not directly tested.