The reliability and economic viability of Generation IV nuclear power plants would be significantly enhanced by a simple, low-cost maintenance technology that can predict the degradation of insulation in electrical-power-system components, such as motors, generators and transformers. Current… More

Component failures resulting from degradation within insulation systems represents a significant contribution to reliability and cost issues facing the nuclear power industry. For example, the Electric Power Research Institute found that 37% of motor failures were due to winding failures, many of… More

Generation IV nuclear power plants will require new condition monitoring methods in order to provide lower installation and operating costs, and continued improvements in operating efficiency. This project will develop a nanotechnology-based sensor that directly detects degradation of electrical… More

Insulation system degradation resulting in component failure represents a significant contribution to reliability and cost issues facing the nuclear power industry. For example, the Electric Power Research Institute found that 37% of motor failures were due to winding failures, many of which involve… More

ABSTRACT: A Health Monitoring Sensor for Solid Rocket Motors (SRMs) uses actual polymeric components of propellant in a tiny new sensor called AgeAlert. These sensors will provide real-time data corresponding to aging of the propellant. The sensors are mounted external to the propellant and… More