SENSORS & MONITORING | PREDICTING RPV LIFE
Sensor degradation and RPV RUL
Sensor degradation poses a critical yet often overlooked challenge in accurately predicting the remaining useful life (RUL) of nuclear reactor pressure vessels. In a significant departure from conventional methods, a novel approach to RUL estimation explicitly addresses sensor degradation for more robust predictions.
THE INTEGRITY OF A REACTOR pressure vessel (RPVs) is essential for the safe, efficient, and prolonged operation of nuclear power plants, but RPVs are subjected to extreme conditions, including high temperature, pressure, and neutron radiation. Given these conditions can lead to material degradation over time, accurate prediction of the remaining useful life (RUL) of RPVs is crucial for preventing catastrophic failures, as well as optimising maintenance schedules, and extending the lifespan of the components. Traditional methods for assessing the RUL of RPVs often rely on periodic inspections and deterministic models, which can be costly, time-consuming, and sometimes do not capture the complex nature of the various degradation mechanisms. A research paper by Raisa Bentay Hossain, K. Kobayashi, and S. B. Alam, titled: ‘Sensor degradation in nuclear reactor pressure vessels: the overlooked factor in remaining useful life prediction’ explores a novel technique for more accurate RUL predictions of reactor pressure vessels. The paper was first published in the Nature Partner Journal (npj) Materials Degradation.
The authors note that while advances in sensor
technology have significantly enhanced the ability to monitor the condition of RPVs in real time, the precision of these forecasts depends on sensor condition. The same adverse conditions that threaten RPV integrity can also degrade sensors resulting in drift, increased noise, and complete failure. These characteristics can in turn result in inaccurate data collection and undermine the accuracy of any RUL predictions. The authors therefore argue that when developing algorithms for estimating RUL, it is essential to consider sensor degradation too. Their work seeks to transform how sensor degradation is assessed within the nuclear industry by highlighting the often-overlooked role of sensor health in accurate predictions of material states.
Neutron embrittlement and sensor decay Ensuring the reliability and longevity of a system or component requires a thorough understanding of its RUL, which can be significantly influenced by conditions encountered during the component’s life cycle. Failures in
Above: A specimen capsule similar to this one from the Callaway Unit 1 reactor was used to provide real data to validate the degradation and remaining life model Source: Fractesus
30 | January 2025 |
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