October 2019 Nuclear Newsletter

We lead off this month with a discussion of the performance of cable jackets during and after Design Basis Events. Often an afterthought, jackets are very important during service.

I came across an interesting article on the future needs for nuclear power and invite you to read it below.

General Cable’s medium voltage power cables use EPR insulation and it’s Ultrol 60+ XLPO jacket. This construction provides outstanding performance both during regular operation but also during a postulated design basis event.

Finally, IEEE Std. 1682-2011 is being revised and updated. We invite you to participate in this work and hope you can volunteer for this important project. Find out more below.

That wraps up this issue. We welcome comments and suggestions about the newsletter.

Jacket Performance in Nuclear Power Plants

Jackets are important to long term cable performance. As plant life has grown from 40 years to 60 years and now to 80 years, not only is cable insulation stressed by temperature and radiation, but jackets are also stressed. In many cables, traditional jacket materials may become over-stressed after long term service, resulting in jacket cracking and flaking off during a post-DBE environment. This problem has been recognized by users and regulators. General Cable has found a new jacket material that solves this problem.
Read more

Future Needs of Nuclear Power

If you’ve been following the “popular” press, there seems to be a sea change in the public’s opinion of nuclear power. More people recognize that a “carbon free” world is not possible without using nuclear.

Earlier this week, I came across this article on the Forbes magazine website which describes just how many nuclear plants may needed.
Read the article

Help Needed

It’s been 9 years since IEEE Standard 1682 – Standard for Qualifying Fiber Optic Cables, Connections, and Optical Fiber Splices for Use in Safety Systems in Nuclear Power Generating Stations and other Nuclear Facilities was published.

Every 10 years we must revisit the standard and make any changes deemed necessary. The time line for this effort is short (at least by standards writing norms!) and we expect to complete our work is 12-18 months. Most work will be done by teleconference supplemented by about 2 face-to-face meetings.

We are forming a new working group to review and revise this standard. I invite you to participate in this effort. We are particularly interested in participants from utilities, architect-engineers and installers. Standards writing is an opportunity to share your knowledge, learn more about the products and enhance your skills. I have been involved with this work for more than 40 years, and the experience is worth its weight in gold. Please help us and let me know if you will be involved!
Ready to help or learn more?

Medium Voltage Power Cables

CableLAN Nuclear provides General Cables’ Ultrol 60+ medium voltage power cables for both safety related and non-safety related cables to nuclear power plants. With EPR insulation and our proprietary XLPO outer jacket, the cables are available in 5, 8 and15 kV designs. Qualification includes thermal and radiation of more than 350 MR and 90C for 60 years, 1 year post-LOCA submergence, flame testing and more.
Read the Spec Sheet