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Wireless sensors are becoming very popular in industrial processes for measurement
and control, condition monitoring, predictive maintenance, and management of
operational transients and accidents
Other considerations, e.g. temperature of the reactor, vibration of the reactor, noise of
the environment, radiation and other components status must be monitored so as to
maintain the equipment before they fails, or to take actions to prevent accidents.
Therefore, a real time monitoring and control system is needed for ensuring the safety
of NNP
In the last five years, many sensor manufacturers have teamed up with companies who
make wireless transmitters, receivers, and network equipment to provide industrial
facilities with integrated networks of wireless sensors that can be used to measure
process temperature, pressure, vibration, humidity, and other parameters to improve
process safety and efficiency, increase output, and optimize maintenance activities.
[5] Process
The wireless sensing and transmitting process consists of
sensing,
data processing
communicating components
The process usually consists of a conventional sensing device such as a thermocouple,
resistance temperature detector (RTD), or strain gauge as well as circuitry to convert
the sensor output into an electrical signal (voltage or current), filter the signal, digitize it,
and transmit it to a receiver by using different wirless protocols. If fast data acquisition is
required, the data is sometimes processed at the sensor, and the results are then
transmitted
Sensor
Processor
Wireless
Communication
Storage flash
Power Source
Wireless Standards
[10] Following are the standards provided by IEEE that can be used in transmitting the
digitized data of sensors output
Table 1: IEEE Wireless Standards
pH readings
By conducting remote analytical pH readings, plant operators can monitor water
quality, thereby eliminating the need to sift through maintenance logs and
corrosion data. With wireless, all of the information is aggregated into a single set
of data.
Condition-Based Maintenance
Wireless sensors and data transmission equipment to implement condition-based
maintenance
Tele-dosimetry system
Electronic personal tele-dosimetry system helps to manage the personnel
radiation dose as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA). A wireless tele
dosimetry system allows real time radiation data and can be used ass an integral
part of nuclear facilitys ALARA program
Miscellaneous Applications
Steam traps
Rotating equipment like turbines
Data collection and management
Sensor monitoring
Facilities monitoring
Rotating Equipment
Communication infrastructure for mobile computing
neutrons, has been realized. Additionally, the data communication capability provided
with an electronic dosemeter enables easy connection to an external data processing
system by means of infrared or wireless communications, enabling the configuration of
a highly functional system for implementing rapid measurement archiving control, area
access control, trend data measurement, and the like.
Wireless communication improves operability and shortens processing time
[9] Area Access Control Apparatus
Installed at the border of the controlled area, the area access control apparatus
automatically screens access to the controlled area, and possesses the following
features.
The exchange of data (such as dose data, dosemeter number, time length
accessing to the ontrolled area, alarm value, etc.) between the electronic
dosemeter and the apparatus is implemented via wireless communication.
A reduction in transit time is achieved by simplifying input of the job number and
by displaying a selectable list of the latest jobs on a screen when entering the
area.
The entire apparatus has a low profile form and high functionality
Importance
A survey of 20 nuclear power plants was conducted to determine the current extent of
wireless use in these plants. it is clear that voice and data communication is currently
the most prominent application in these plants. It is expected, however, that wireless
technologies for equipment condition monitoring, process measurement and other
applications will find their way into the nuclear industry over the next five to ten years
Easy to Install
Wireless sensors are easy to install
Cost Effective
Wireless sensors are cost effective. Wireline networks usually impose cabling
and installation costs, which can exceed $1000 per linear foot in typical nuclear
power plants. Fortunately, the cost of wireless systems can be less than 1% of
the cost of wired systems in a nuclear plant environment. These cabling costs
alone represent a substantial incentive for plants to explore wireless systems.
Moreover, the wireless industry is aiming to reduce wireless costs from $20/foot
to $2/foot over the next few years
Self-Healing
They have ability of self- healing. If a communication path is interrupted , the
network devices will automatically identify another route to transmit the data until
the original path is restored
Redundancy
They can have built-in redundancy
Non-Intrusive
They are non-intrusive. As they are having no wires so their presence in physical
environment doesnt cause troubles in handling the other instruments or goods
Easy to Move
Wireless sensors can also be added as needed, without laying more cabling, and
they can be moved from one location to another without having to move wires.
Security
Wireless technology needs high security.
How to overcome
The primary means of data protection for wireless transmissions include
encryption, authentication, and intrusion prevention. For monitoring applications,
the standard encryption and authentication is typically sufficient for protection of
the wireless network.
The proper shielding the wires used for power and signaling
Provide proper grounding to instruments
There should be appreciable separation between cables. Usually it is
referred to keep 5cm distance between the cables carrying some data
signal
Instruments should also have an appreciable distance between them
Proper filters should be used to avoid any noise coming in the way of
signal
Sensors should be supported by surge suppressers in order to avoid their
damage
Reliability
Wireless technology has more reliability issue. Due to intermittent obstructions to
wireless communication paths from moving objects e.g. cranes, vehicles.
How to overcome
The use of mesh networks that offer redundant communication paths can reduce
the likelihood that normal plant operation will interfere with wireless transmission
Considerations
One should pay heed over the following issue when using wireless sensors in nuclear
industry
Summary
Wireless technology offers a number of opportunities to power generation facilities
ranging from data and voice communications to equipment condition monitoring. It has
become clear that the wireless technology field is rapidly changing and the trend is
toward ubiquitous computing and communication. Variety of applications can be applied
to nuclear plant environment, including online equipment monitoring for condition-based
maintenance, two-way radio communication, the VoIP phone, mobile computing and
remote video monitoring. Wireless technologies are currently used to some extent for
voice and data communications in nuclear power plants but their use for other
applications are very limited due to infrastructural issues and security concerns. That is,
most nuclear power plants do not have a wireless backbone to build upon and include
wireless sensors for the variety of applications that exist in nuclear power plants.
In the short term, adapt wireless sensors for equipment condition monitoring, determine
the uncertainties of online monitoring techniques for process estimation, and deploy
wireless systems to track the performance of nuclear plant sensors to establish
objective interval for sensor maintenance and replacement.