Application of Wireless Technologies in Nuclear Power Plant Instrumentation and Control Systems

Wireless technology provides excellent solutions to the problem of the high cost of industrial wiring and also provides a convenient and fast way to the installation of temporary instrumentation to monitor the health of selected plant equipment. The potential cost reduction of avoiding wire/cable installation and maintenance is creating an expanding market for wireless applications. Low power consumption, battery operated devices can avoid the need for power supply cables as well as communications cables. The CRP will focus on resolving problems with the operation of wireless systems in the electrically noisy environment of a nuclear power plant (NPP). Most of the heavy physical structures in an NPP are characterized by high reverberant radio frequency (RF) environments, which cause multi-path interference in RF signals. Also, wireless devices using RF are subjected to many sources of electromagnetic interference in the NPPs. Large motors, motor controllers, electric devices, process controllers, digital equipment, and radio communication devices are obvious sources of electromagnetic interference, and altogether they constitute a negative environment for wireless communication. The use of wireless technology also brings problems of security and privacy to industrial networks. The scope of the research will cover issues including: electromagnetic compatibility, cybersecurity, reliability, transmission delay, cost, issues surrounding deployment of additional sensors on existing network infrastructure, communication spectrum management, power and cabling concerns, etc. The IAEA will launch this CRP based on the recommendation of the Technical Working Group on Nuclear Power Plant Instrumentation and Control.