License renewal aging management review of insulated cables for Oconee Nuclear Station

The license renewal federal regulation, 10 CFR 54, Requirements for Renewal of Operating Licenses for Nuclear Power Plants, describes the process and the technical requirements for an application to extend the operating license of a commercial nuclear power plant. The license renewal (LR) rule requires that an integrated plant assessment (IPA) be completed. The IPA is an assessment which demonstrates that the effects of aging will be managed for specific structures and components during the 20-year extended period of operation. Insulated cables were reviewed as part of the Oconee Nuclear Station IPA which was submitted to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in July 1998. The technical challenges for reviewing insulated cables were to determine which cables were within LR scope and how to adequately assess their aging. An approach was adopted for the review of insulated cables that identified all insulation materials, bounding characteristics for self-heating temperature rise and service environments. This bounding approach streamlined the review process, made it possible to overcome the technical challenges and complete the review of insulated cables for the Oconee Nuclear Station LR application.