PRAM Conditional Intelligence - Long-Term Air Duct Monitoring For Nuclear Facilities
PRAM enables Condition Intelligence of safety critical ventilation systems in the nuclear industry
In the Nuclear Industry, ventilation systems that segregate radiological boundaries and control the spread of contamination are key to ensuring the safety of people, plant, and the environment, both on and off-site. These systems are often required to last for extended periods, often beyond the operational lifespan of the building itself. Therefore, understanding the lifespan of these assets is critical as it allows for strategic decisions regarding the maintenance, replacement, or retirement of these systems.
The PR02 represents a significant innovation in development at PRAM Labs, in collaboration with Sellafield Ltd. This advancement enables a paradigm shift towards 'predictive' rather than 'reactive' asset management practices.
THE PR02
PR02 is a wireless, battery-powered sensor system, permanently deployed in the critical and challenging ductwork of nuclear facilities. It integrates our proprietary PRAM technology, which measures corrosion and pitting, as well as the accumulation of salt and other physical contaminants. Additionally, it includes a temperature and humidity sensor, alongside a microphone, to detect issues such as blocked filters and broken fans.
This will provide Sellafield with a complete and real-time picture of performance, enabling critical, real-time decisions regarding the maintenance and upgrade of these safety-critical systems in the years and decades ahead.
Monitoring Corrosion With PRAM
Radar systems emit an electromagnetic wave into the surrounding environment and are extremely sensitive to changes in the relative intensity of returned signals. These changes are often due to variations in the material properties of reflecting surfaces, such as conductivity, alterations in surface texture (including pitting and salt deposition), deformations, and cracking. By using multiple antennas and comparing the timing information from each, PRAM can assess the distance traveled and the directionality of these returned signals, thereby accurately identifying areas of corrosion.
Benefits
- Reduce H&S Risks – Through automation of inspection tasks and reduction in system failure risk.
- Low Operational Requirements – Radars are robust devices, requiring little calibration or maintenance and no operator involvement.
- Long Life Span – Radar is unaffected by operating conditions within the ventilation system, giving it a lifespan measured in decades, far beyond the operational use of the building.
- Measure Beyond the Line of Sight – Detect corrosion/pitting from up to 50M from the sensor, around bends, and in locations with access restrictions.
- Digital Twin Capability – By measuring and monitoring all the requisite parameters, we can build a digital twin to predict the failure of the system.