Technical Approach for Enabling Widespread Use of Wireless Technologies in the Power Block of Nuclear Power Plants
Wireless technologies offer tremendous opportunities to nuclear power plants for improved safety, efficiency, and reliability by supporting equipment condition monitoring, voice and data communications, electronic work packages, and many other emerging technologies. Aside from cost and cyber security concerns, the primary challenge is that the majority of equipment installed in nuclear power plants was never tested for Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) with wireless devices. As a result, the ability of legacy equipment to reliably withstand wireless transmissions is not known. To manage this reality, utilities have used administrative controls to define distances from sensitive plant equipment where wireless cannot be used (i.e. separation distances or “exclusion zones”). In some instances, such as with cellular technologies, outright prohibition has also been implemented unless further technical evaluations are performed. AMS has demonstrated that although the concerns related to EMC for wireless technology implementation are valid, they are very manageable and can be addressed using a systematic approach that is described herein. The AMS approach helps objectively demonstrate that sensitive plant equipment will not be impacted by wireless technologies and thereby establish guidance for more free use throughout the plant.
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