PARALLELS AND CONTRASTS OF NUCLEAR POWER WIRELESS INSTRUMENTATION APPLICATIONS WITH CURRENT ACTIVITIES WITHIN THE AEROSPACE INDUSTRIES

摘要

Recent studies and test-beds for RF wireless instrumentation, sensors and related types of devices in both the power industry and aerospace industries utilize similar technologies and standards even though the particular applications may be quite dissimilar. An emerging technology-application landscape can be perceived that evokes remarkably common characteristics and needs. Furthermore, new technologies being developed within the aerospace industries, aircraft and spacecraft alike, may indeed point the way to realizing the holy grail of measurement and sensors, at least for certain classes of devices: that of not only wireless sensors and measurements, but also extremely small, battery-less and in some cases, processor-less. This paper compares and contrasts current activities, technologies, standardization efforts and applications in these two industries.EPRI, DOE, ORNL, ISA and numerous major players in the commercial process control and instrumentation market are busy doing the very same investigations as in the aerospace industry. But, just as the children ask in the automobile, "Are we there yet?", we should ask similar questions, take a step back and put wireless into perspective - as a technology with tremendous potential, and as a classic Disruptive Innovation. Can we ever perform control in a nuclear power plant wirelessly? What are the benefits and limitations? Is NASA's vision of Fly-by-Wireless feasible? Why pursue such a vision for aircraft and spacecraft? What are the analogies for instrumentation and control in the fossil and nuclear power industry? What emerging and just-over-the horizon technologies from aerospace development can make significant strides in fulfilling such a goal in the power industry?