First-of-Kind Nuclear Demonstration Readiness Project: Advanced Remote Monitoring

As an outcome of current market conditions, many nuclear facilities are struggling to remain economically competitive in the regions they serve. Over the past few decades, non-discretionary capital investment to address safety and regulatory issues has resulted in the deferral of needed reinvestment in the plants to address aging plant systems. Now, at a time when available discretionary capital is greatly reduced due to depressed energy prices, nuclear utilities need to both upgrade their aging plant systems and lower their operating costs by investing in transformative business improvement such as centralized plant monitoring. Leveraging the capabilities of the existing platform developed by Luminant POC, advanced monitoring and diagnostic software will be expanded to integrate the technology-driven solutions that will be researched, deployed, evaluated, and demonstrated to support the following pilots:

1. Operator Rounds: Advanced cameras (visual and infrared), wireless vibration, and temperature sensors will be considered (Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Plant will lead this effort).
2. Transformer Health Monitoring and Cycle Isolation Monitoring: Using online dissolved gas analyzer (DGA) the health of different transformer types and cycle isolation valve leakage will be monitored at the POC and prognosis will be performed using the models developed by Idaho National Laboratory (INL) (Columbia Generating Station will lead this effort).
3. Process Anomalies Detection: Automate detection of anomalies across different process parameters and plant asset performance data using data analytics to enable early assessment of plant asset health condition or any potential sensor drift issues (Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant and Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant will co-lead this effort).
4. Thermal Performance: Consolidate and automate thermal performance data collection to detect sources of thermal performance losses in order to maximize unit generation (Susquehanna Nuclear Power Plant and Columbia Generating Station will lead this effort).
5. Fire Watch: Automate the fire watch process by using advanced fire detection sensors and methods (Susquehanna Nuclear Power Plant will lead this effort)