Flak, Jacek

Häkli, Janne

Koskinen, Ari

Laikari, Arto

The aim of this study was to identify and compile information of existing wireless solutions used in nuclear industry and other industries and services (e.g. mining sites, factories and military), which could be applicable to the nuclear industry. Technological development of wireless technologies has advanced in recent years very much and novel sensors and radio technologies provide the opportunity for creating extensive wireless sensor networks to monitor and control complex systems without wires. These advancements have also enabled the mobility of personnel as well as applications creating new ways to optimize the operations in all business sectors.It was already known prior to this study that nuclear industry has been very cautious to adopt wireless technologies. Reasons for this are the strict regulatory issues concerning safety and reliability and fear for new cyber security threats and electromagnetic interference with other nuclear power plant (NPP) systems. However this study reveals that there is an increasing interest among NPP owners and operators to start using wireless technologies and various wireless pilots have already been tested in many countries for several years. Research communities together with the nuclear industry are studying opportunities to overcome the additional obstacles and restrictions specific to the nuclear industry. In the concluding section of this study, reasons why to use or not to use wireless communication in different plant phases (normal operation, annual outage, service operation before decommissioning and decommissioning) are discussed. Our study has revealed, as expect ed that other industries are already using wireless technologies in countless ways. It shows also that the NPPs, standardisation bodies and regulators are in the process to accept eventually the use of wireless technology in the NPPs.This study is based on interviews with selected experts from the Nordic nuclear power plants as well as on literature reviews from various sources, experience gained from relevant research projects and own practical experience

Wireless in Nuclear:Feasibility study

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