TMI-2 cable/connection program: a look at in situ test data

At the Three Mile Island (TMI) Unit 2 Reactor Building, the Instrumentation and Electrical Program in 1981 initiated a major analysis of cable systems. These cable systems were exposed to varying degrees of radiation, steam, humidity, pressure suppression spray, submergence, and a hydrogen burn event. By studying the electrical and physical properties of selected representative cables and the ways in which these cables responded to the accident and post-accident environments, the Cables/Connections Task group is generating information with which government and the nuclear industry can develop guidelines to make components more radiation resistant, re-evaluate qualification testing procedures and regulatory mandates, and contribute to nuclear power plant safety. This report presents an overview of the TMI Unit 2 cable analysis program and, as examples, the findings for the first 49 cables tested. These cables are in electrical penetration R607