TY - GEN
T1 - Cable aging and condition monitoring of radiation resistant nano-dielectrics in advanced reactor applications
AU - Duckworth, Robert C.
AU - Paranthaman, M. Parans
AU - Aytug, Tolga
AU - Kidder, Michelle K.
AU - Polizos, Georgios
AU - Leonard, Keith J.
PY - 2015
Y1 - 2015
N2 - Cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) nanocomposites have been developed in an effort to improve cable insulation lifetime to serve in both instrument cables and auxiliary power systems in advanced reactor applications as well as to provide an alternative for new or retro-fit cable insulation installations. Nano-dielectrics composed of different weight percentages of MgO & SiO2 have been subjected to radiation at accumulated doses approaching 20 MRad and thermal aging temperatures exceeding 100°C. Depending on the composition, the performance of the nanodielectric insulation was influenced, both positively and negatively, when quantified with respect to its electrical and mechanical properties. For virgin (unradiated) or thermally aged-samples, XLPE nanocomposites with 1wt.% SiO2 showed improvement in breakdown strength and reduction in dissipation factor when compared to pure (undoped) XLPE, while XLPE 3wt.% SiO2 resulted in lower breakdown strength. When aged in air at 120°C, retention of electrical breakdown strength and dissipation factor was observed for XLPE 3wt.% MgO nanocomposites. Irrespective of the nanoparticle species, XLPE nanocomposites that were gamma irradiated up to the accumulated dose of 18 MRad showed a significant drop in breakdown strength especially for particle concentrations greater than 3 wt.%. Additional Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy measurements suggest changes in the structure of the XLPE SiO2 nanocomposites associated with the interaction of silicon and oxygen. Discussion on the relevance of property changes with respect to cable aging and condition monitoring is presented.
AB - Cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) nanocomposites have been developed in an effort to improve cable insulation lifetime to serve in both instrument cables and auxiliary power systems in advanced reactor applications as well as to provide an alternative for new or retro-fit cable insulation installations. Nano-dielectrics composed of different weight percentages of MgO & SiO2 have been subjected to radiation at accumulated doses approaching 20 MRad and thermal aging temperatures exceeding 100°C. Depending on the composition, the performance of the nanodielectric insulation was influenced, both positively and negatively, when quantified with respect to its electrical and mechanical properties. For virgin (unradiated) or thermally aged-samples, XLPE nanocomposites with 1wt.% SiO2 showed improvement in breakdown strength and reduction in dissipation factor when compared to pure (undoped) XLPE, while XLPE 3wt.% SiO2 resulted in lower breakdown strength. When aged in air at 120°C, retention of electrical breakdown strength and dissipation factor was observed for XLPE 3wt.% MgO nanocomposites. Irrespective of the nanoparticle species, XLPE nanocomposites that were gamma irradiated up to the accumulated dose of 18 MRad showed a significant drop in breakdown strength especially for particle concentrations greater than 3 wt.%. Additional Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy measurements suggest changes in the structure of the XLPE SiO2 nanocomposites associated with the interaction of silicon and oxygen. Discussion on the relevance of property changes with respect to cable aging and condition monitoring is presented.
KW - Cable aging
KW - Cable insulation
KW - Cross-linked polyethylene
KW - Nanocomposites
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84946203847&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:84946203847
T3 - 9th International Topical Meeting on Nuclear Plant Instrumentation, Control, and Human-Machine Interface Technologies, NPIC and HMIT 2015
SP - 1875
EP - 1884
BT - 9th International Topical Meeting on Nuclear Plant Instrumentation, Control, and Human-Machine Interface Technologies, NPIC and HMIT 2015
PB - American Nuclear Society
T2 - 9th International Topical Meeting on Nuclear Plant Instrumentation, Control, and Human-Machine Interface Technologies, NPIC and HMIT 2015
Y2 - 22 February 2015 through 26 February 2015
ER -