Radiation resistant cables
APAR has developed a range of single and multi-core wires & cables which are suitable to operate at higher ambient temperature and are radiation resistant. Apar is a major supplier for cables in India to Nuclear Power Industry.
Insulated with different materials based on application including ETFE, special thermoplastic & thermoset compounds, cross linked polyolefin (XLPE/XLPO), polyurethane (TPU) and polyimide (taped or TPI extruded), PEEK etc, they meet the demanding requirements of scientific and nuclear applications. They can be used as instrumentation, control and sensor cables in nuclear plants, or in particle detectors. The instrument and control cables for nuclear reactors are exposed to temperatures, dose rates, and accumulated doses during the anticipated 40 – 60 year operational life of the nuclear power plant fleet.
Cables meet Mould growth, Anti Rodent, Anti Termite, Thermal Ageing followed by Radiation resistance test, LOCA test and MSLB test meeting IEEE-383 and associated fire performance tests. Technical information Up to +100°C: halogen-free XLPE/XLPO (50-100 Mrad*) Up to +125°C: halogen-free TPU (100-200 Mrad*) Up to +155°C: ETFE insulation (10-30 Mrad*) Up to +250°C: Polyimide & PEEK (500-7000 Mrad*) Radiation-tolerant polymers and corresponding breakdown
| Polymer* | Breakdown strength(V/mil) | Maximum usefulradiation dose(Gy) |
|---|---|---|
| PEEK | 480 | 1 x 107 |
| Nylon | 300 – 400 | 2.5 x 104 |
| Application | These cables can be used as instrumentation, control and sensor cables in nuclear plants or in particle detectors. |
|---|---|
| Characteristics | The radiation resistance of materials is defined using the Radiation Index (RI) in IEC 60544-4 and refers to the point at which the elongation break is reduced to ≥50% of the original value.1 Gy = 100 rad; 1Gy = 1J/kg The resistance of cables, wires and other products for connection technology against ionizing radiation plays a particularly crucial role in nuclear plants. In addition to the suitability of the products themselves, all the processes also need to meet the special requirements of such application areas. Temperature: Range – 20 Deg C to + 200 Deg C. |
| Applicable standards | Customer standard |
| Product range | Cable sizes started from 0.34 sq. mm onwards |
| Advantages | The instrument and control cables in nuclear reactors get exposed to temperatures, dose rates, and accumulated doses for the 40- 60year operational life of the nuclear power plant fleet. The chemical, electrical, and mechanical performance of each was analyzed as a function of environmental exposure and composition. |
Published On: January 21, 2021