Understanding MI Cables

Mineral Insulated (MI) cables are a unique type of electrical cable designed for harsh environments, including high temperatures, radiation exposure, and corrosive atmospheres. These cables are constructed with a central conductor surrounded by a magnesium oxide mineral insulation and a metallic sheath, providing exceptional performance and reliability.

MI Cables in Nuclear Power Plant Feedthroughs

Feedthroughs are critical components in nuclear power plants, allowing electrical signals to pass safely between containment areas and external systems. MI cables are ideally suited for use in feedthrough applications due to their:

• Radiation Resistance: MI cables can withstand high levels of radiation exposure, making them ideal for use in nuclear environments.
• High Temperature Capability: MI cables can operate at temperatures up to 450°C, ensuring reliable performance in demanding conditions.
• Corrosion Resistance: The magnesium oxide insulation provides excellent resistance to corrosion, preventing damage to the cable and ensuring long-term reliability.
• Flame Retardant Properties: MI cables are inherently flame retardant, minimising the risk of fire in the event of an emergency.

TRM’s Specialised MI Cables

Thermal Resource Management (TRM) offers a wide range of specialised MI cables designed to meet the stringent requirements of nuclear power plant feedthroughs. Our cables are available in various conductor sizes, sheath materials, and termination options to suit different applications and installation requirements.

Key Features of TRM’s MI Cables:

• Customisable Designs: We can tailor our MI cables to meet your specific requirements, including cable length, conductor size, and sheath material.
• High-Quality Materials: Our cables are constructed using premium-quality materials to ensure long-term reliability and performance.
• Strict Quality Control: We adhere to rigorous quality control standards to guarantee the integrity of our products.
• Compliance with Nuclear Standards: Our MI cables comply with relevant nuclear industry standards, ensuring safe and reliable operation.

Applications of TRM’s MI Cables in Nuclear Power Plants:

• Instrumentation and Control: Providing electrical connections for instrumentation and control systems.
• Reactor Monitoring: Monitoring critical parameters within the reactor core.
• Safety Systems: Ensuring the reliable operation of safety systems.
• Emergency Power Systems: Providing power to essential equipment during emergencies.

Contact TRM Today

To learn more about TRM’s specialised MI cables for nuclear power plant feedthroughs, please contact us today. Our experts will work closely with you to understand your specific requirements and provide tailored solutions.

What are small modular reactors?

Small modular reactors (SMRs) are part of today’s advanced nuclear technology that is made to be more environmentally friendly within the nuclear power sector. They are power generators with an output that is around one-third of what standard nuclear power reactors can produce (approximately 300 MW(e)). SMRs are designed to offer enhanced levels of safety and produce large amounts of low-carbon electricity. The key features of SMRs are:

• Small- in terms of physical size, they’re a fraction of a traditional nuclear power reactor.
• Modular- allows systems and elements to be factory-built and moved as a complete unit to a location ready to be installed. This minimises costs, improves quality, and reduces construction schedules.
• Reactors- they use nuclear fission to create heat and produce energy.

Together with bigger, conventional reactors, and other advanced reactors, small modular reactors are growing nuclear energy portfolio options that are necessary to meet our national standards of energy safety and mitigating climate change.

In locations that don’t have suitable transmission lines and grid capacity, SMRs can be fitted into a grid that’s already there or remotely off-grid, for smaller electrical output, ensuring there is low-carbon power for both industry and the general population. This is especially applicable for microreactors, which are a subset of SMRs and generate electrical power up to 10MW(e).

Small modular reactors are better for the environment in comparison to other SMRs are best suited to areas that don’t have access to clean, reliable, and affordable energy. In addition, microreactors could work as an alternative power supply in emergencies or take the place of generators that are usually run on diesel.

Compared to other reactors, SMR designs are typically less complex, and the safety concept makes use of passive systems and the natural safety characteristics of the reactor, including low power and operating pressure. So, in these cases, no human intervention or external power or force is needed to shut down the systems.

This is due to the fact that passive systems depend on physical actions like circulation, gravity, convection, and self-pressurisation. The improved safety margins and mineral insulated cable, in some cases, eliminate or substantially reduce the potential for dangerous releases of radioactivity into the environment and the public in the event of an accident.

Another benefit of small modular reactors in the nuclear industry is they have reduced fuel requirements. Therefore, power plants that are based on SMRs might need refuelling less often, every 3 to 7 years compared to every 1 to 2 years for standard plants. Some SMRs are even designed to function for up to 30 years without any need for adding fuel.

How do we help small modular reactor developers?

At TRM, we provide solutions to modular reactor developers globally with the aim of making sure our clients have the knowledge to design and implement the most suitable, cost-effective, and long-lasting products.

As experienced mineral insulated cable manufacturers this is often what our core products centre around. However, if we feel that it’s not the right fit for the application, we will use other technologies to achieve the desired outcome. Contact us today to find out more.