Electrical cables used for power, control, instrumentation and communication represent key components of existing nuclear power plants. It is important for operators to be able to determine the status of installed cables in ways that minimize disruption of power generation and do not destroy the cables in the process. Environmental stress on nuclear power plant cables that can lead to degradation of cable performance over the long operational life of the plants includes radiation, heat and moisture. Continued operation of existing plants over periods greatly exceeding their original forty years of qualified life will require effective non-destructive methods for monitoring cable condition and for appraising cable remaining useful life. We present an update of the ongoing assessment of non-destructive nuclear cable evaluation technologies at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory supported by the Light Water Reactor Sustainability program of the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Nuclear Energy. (PNNL-SA-111465).
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