The Research on Design Selection and Application of Cable in Nuclear Plant

Currently, the selection of cable designs in the design and operation of nuclear power plants is not reasonable. This paper summarises guidelines for selecting cable designs. It is noted that cables can generally be divided into four levels based on their installation location and assumed safety functions: K1 class, K2 class, K3 class, and NC class. The discussion then moves on to cable structural design and material selection, covering topics such as conductor selection, insulation material performance, sheath layer material comparison, compatibility principles, and other relevant dimensions. This section discusses the performance verification test of nuclear-grade cables, including the sequence of performance tests and environmental conditions. It is important to note that severe environmental conditions include a combination of temperature, pressure, humidity, radiation, mechanical stress, chemical splash, or the results of a design basis event (DBE). The requirements of the thermal aging test and mainstream test methods are explained, and it is noted that the currently commonly used test methods are the best choice for the insulation material. Finally, this article summarises the selection and application of cables in nuclear power plants. It recommends giving priority to thermosetting insulation materials and aims to address the issues of irrational cable design and selection as well as problematic application. The article also seeks to promote the autonomy and comprehensive localization of nuclear power plant cables.