MANAGING THE ELECTROMAGNETIC

COMPATIBILITY AND WIRELESS

COEXISTENCE CONCERNS FOR THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF EXISTING AND
FUTURE WIRELESS TECHNOLOGIES IN
NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
Alfian Harfin Preastanto
11/313383/TK/37888

I. INTRODUCTION
The typical environment in a nuclear power plant

includes many sources of electromagnetic interference

(EMI), radio-frequency interference (RFI), and power
surges, such as hand-held two-way radios, arc
welders, switching of large inductive loads, high fault
currents, and high-energy fast transients associated
with switching at the generator or transmission voltage
levels. Hence, operational and functional issues
related to safety in the nuclear power plant
environment are required to address the possibility of
troubles and malfunctions in instrumentation and
control systems caused by EMI/RFI and power surges.

 The nuclear industry has traditionally been slow to

adopt newer technologies and wireless is no

exception. There are numerous barriers to its
implementation including electromagnetic interference
(EMI) concerns, cyber security issues, return on
investment (ROI) incentives, and cultural acceptance.

NEGATIVE EFFECTS

II. EMC QUALIFICATION

The calculation of the minimum exclusion
distance to keep intentional or unintentional
transmitters away from sensitive equipment.

30

Pt = the effective radiated power of the EMI/RFI emitter (in Watts);

Gt = the gain of the EMI/RFI emitter dimensionless); and
E = the allowable radiated electric field strength of the EMI/RFI

emitter (in Volts/meter) at the point of installation (usually 4 V/m

and provides 8dB of margin to the immunity qualification level of
10 V/m.

2.4 GHZ RF EMISSIONS DATA FROM A

NUCLEAR POWER PLANT

EMI/RFI EMISSIONS MAPPING IN A

NUCLEAR POWER PLANT

OVERLAPPING CHANNELS FOR 2.4

GHZ WIRELESS PROTOCOLS

IV. FUTURE RESEARCH AND

DEVELOPMENT AREAS
There are three main areas of need with respect to wireless

coexistence and EMC for the nuclear power industry.

1.

The first area is the development of guidance documentation to

adequately address wireless technology, its acceptability or
limitations for implementation into nuclear power plants, and
how to protect plant equipment and other wireless devices from
wireless transmissions.

2.

The second focus area for research and development is in

generating the necessary test methods to sufficiently test for the
coexistence and EMC of wireless devices

3. third area is the concerted effort to design and develop new

wireless sensors and devices that have inherent characteristics that
promote EMC and wireless coexistence.
Careful considerations for the transmission protocol, power level,
sensor type, and power source all play an important role in the
determination of acceptability and adoption of wireless devices.

V. CONCLUSIONS
In the nuclear power industry, wireless systems have successfully

been implemented to varying degrees in a small number of

applications.
To extend and continue this success and ensure safe and reliable

plant equipment operation, EMC and wireless coexistence testing

will play an important role.