MANAGING THE ELECTROMAGNETIC COMPATIBILITY AND WIRELESSCOEXISTENCE CONCERNS FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF EXISTING

ANDFUTURE WIRELESS TECHNOLOGIES IN NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS

Alfian Harfin Preastanto11/313383/TK/37888

I. INTRODUCTION The typical environment in a nuclear power plant includes

many sources of electromagnetic interference (EMI), radio-frequency interference (RFI), and power surges, such as hand-held two-way radios, arc welders, switching of large inductive loads, high fault currents, and high-energy fast transients associated with switching at the generator or transmission voltage levels. Hence, operational and functional issues related to safety in the nuclear power plant environment are required to address the possibility of troubles and malfunctions in instrumentation and control systems caused by EMI/RFI and power surges.

The nuclear industry has traditionally been slow to adopt newer technologies and wireless is no exception. There are numerous barriers to its implementation including electromagnetic interference (EMI) concerns, cyber security issues, return on investment (ROI) incentives, and cultural acceptance.

NEGATIVE EFFECTS

II. EMC QUALIFICATION

The calculation of the minimum exclusion distance to keep intentional or unintentional transmitters away from sensitive equipment.

Pt = the effective radiated power of the EMI/RFI emitter (in Watts);

Gt = the gain of the EMI/RFI emitter dimensionless); and E = the allowable radiated electric field strength of the

EMI/RFI emitter (in Volts/meter) at the point of installation (usually 4 V/m and provides 8dB of margin to the immunity qualification level of 10 V/m.

2.4 GHZ RF EMISSIONS DATA FROM A NUCLEAR POWER PLANT

EMI/RFI EMISSIONS MAPPING IN A NUCLEAR POWER PLANT

OVERLAPPING CHANNELS FOR 2.4 GHZ WIRELESS PROTOCOLS

IV. FUTURE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AREAS There are three main areas of need with respect to wireless

coexistence and EMC for the nuclear power industry. 1. The first area is the development of guidance

documentation to adequately address wireless technology, its acceptability or limitations for implementation into nuclear power plants, and how to protect plant equipment and other wireless devices from wireless transmissions.

2. The second focus area for research and development is in generating the necessary test methods to sufficiently test for the coexistence and EMC of wireless devices

3. third area is the concerted effort to design and develop new wireless sensors and devices that have inherent characteristics that promote EMC and wireless coexistence. Careful considerations for the transmission protocol, power level, sensor type, and power source all play an important role in the determination of acceptability and adoption of wireless devices.

V. CONCLUSIONS In the nuclear power industry, wireless systems have

successfully been implemented to varying degrees in a small number of applications.

To extend and continue this success and ensure safe and reliable plant equipment operation, EMC and wireless coexistence testing will play an important role.