Evaluation of electromagnetic interference environment of the instrumentation and control systems in nuclear power units

Highlights: • We surveyed the electromagnetic emissions at the location of I&C systems. • We assessed the electromagnetic levels on reactor types from thirteen nuclear plants. • We evaluated the margin between plant emission limits and the highest composite levels. • We presented the formula of radiated susceptibility test levels to non-safety-related I&C systems. - Abstract: The electromagnetic interference (EMI) generated from sources in power units can interfere with digital Instrument and Control (I&C) systems. When EMI is emitted with conducted and radiated noise, it interferes with the signals of the I&C systems. Since the digital I&C systems are efficient and competitively priced, the analogue I&C systems have been upgraded and replaced with digital I&C systems, but these systems have less EMI immunity. When safety-related I&C systems are installed in the units, the verification of equipment EMI should not be done in site-specific tests but in test facilities. There are needs to do the overall site-specific EMI assessment of I&C systems depending on the reactor types from thirteen operating units. This study evaluated the margin between plant emission limits and the highest composite plant emissions of the EMI. When the non-safety-related I&C equipment or systems are placed in the units, there are no individual test levels of the radiated electrical field. If need be, the level should comply with the test levels of the radiated electrical field on the safety-related I&C systems. This paper presents the test levels of radiated electrical fields to non-safety-related I&C equipment or systems