Influence of Optic Cable Construction Parts on Recovery Process after Gamma Irradiation

Zuzana Šaršounová, Vít Plaček, Václav Prajzler, Kateřina Masopustová and Petr Havránek
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Zuzana Šaršounová: ÚJV Řež, a. s., Hlavní 130, Řež, 250 68 Husinec, Czech Republic
Vít Plaček: ÚJV Řež, a. s., Hlavní 130, Řež, 250 68 Husinec, Czech Republic
Václav Prajzler: Department of Microelectronics, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague, Technicka 2, 166 27 Prague, Czech Republic
Kateřina Masopustová: Department of Microelectronics, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague, Technicka 2, 166 27 Prague, Czech Republic
Petr Havránek: ÚJV Řež, a. s., Hlavní 130, Řež, 250 68 Husinec, Czech Republic

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 2, 1-10

Abstract: Fibre optic cables are widely used as communication cables in Instrumentation and Control (I&C) systems. In the case of nuclear power plants (NPPs), using optic cables in mild environments outside of containment areas are very common. However, at present, there is a need for fibre optic cables to be used in containment areas, i.e., with radiation. An optical fibre consists of a highly transparent core that possesses a higher refractive index than the surrounding transparent cladding, which possesses a lower refractive index. Most optical fibres are manufactured from glass (silica with required dopants) which is created at high temperatures from the reaction between gasses. The glass used in optical fibres is sensitive; it becomes dark during exposure to radiation, which compromises the optic functions. That is why there has been a slow infiltration of optic cable in NPP containment areas. Radiation resistant optic fibres have been developed. Although these fibres are called “radiation resistant,” they go through a darkening process (absorbance increase) as well, but not as quickly. Immediately after the irradiation has stopped, a recovery process starts in the glass structure. During this period, optical losses of the glass improve, but not to the original level as before the irradiation. During the testing of optic cables for the installation in nuclear power plant containment areas, we observed an unusual recovery process. In the beginning, a healing effect was observed. However, after a few days of recovery, the healing process stopped, and the trend changed again as a worsening of the optical properties was observed. This paper describes experiments which explain the reasons for such an unexpected behaviour.

Keywords: fibre optic; irradiation; attenuation; recovery process; nuclear power plants (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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