Multi-core cable fault diagnosis using cluster time-frequency domain reflectometry

Guaranteeing the integrity and functionality of the control and instrumentation (C&I) cable system is essential in ensuring safe nuclear power plant (NPP) operation. When a fault occurs in a multi-core cable, it not only affects the signals of faulty lines but in fact, disturbs the rest as well due to crosstalk and noise interference. Therefore, this results in C&I signal errors in NPP operation and further leads to a rise in concern regarding the NPP operation. Thus, it is necessary for diagnostic technologies of multi-core C&I cables to classify the faulty line and detect the fault to assure the safety and reliability of NPP operation. We propose a diagnostic method that detects the fault location and faulty line in multi-core C&I cable using a clustering algorithm based on TFDR results. The faulty line detection clustering algorithm uses TFDR cross-correlation and phase synchrony results as input feature data altogether which can detect the faulty line and identify the fault point successfully. The proposed clustering algorithm is verified by experiments with two possible fault scenarios in NPP operation.