AMS Provides Wireless Implementation Services for Nuclear Facilities

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AMS, a provider of engineering, testing, and measurement services, provides wireless implementation services for nuclear facilities to support the safe deployment of wireless technologies while addressing concerns related to electromagnetic interference (EMI), security, and operational reliability.

Wireless technologies have improved communications, maintenance, safety, and workforce mobility across industrial environments. However, nuclear facilities have been slower to adopt wireless systems because of the need to ensure that wireless devices do not interfere with plant equipment or safety-critical operations. AMS supports nuclear sites through services that include site walkdowns, sensor selection assistance, laboratory testing, EMI/RFI site surveys, and in-situ immunity testing.

Assessing Wireless Readiness in Nuclear Plants

AMS describes a three-step approach used to support wireless implementation at a nuclear power plant. The process included performing walkdowns and visual evaluations of plant equipment installations, characterizing the electromagnetic environment through EMI/RFI site surveys, and conducting targeted immunity testing to establish data-driven exclusion zones.

During site walkdowns, AMS evaluated sensitive and critical equipment for vulnerabilities to EMI from wireless devices. Areas such as grounding, shielding, conduit and cable tray usage, and exposed signal leads were inspected to identify equipment that could be vulnerable, critical to plant operation or safety, or prone to nuisance alarms.

EMI/RFI Site Surveys and Equipment Evaluation

Following the walkdowns, AMS conducted EMI/RFI site surveys to characterize the plant's electromagnetic environment and identify existing emissions. These surveys help determine whether wireless frequencies may compete with existing signals and identify equipment that could be susceptible to interference.

AMS identified several systems with emissions in frequency bands used by wireless devices. These systems, along with other critical plant equipment, were selected for in-situ immunity testing.

In-Situ Immunity Testing for Wireless Deployment

AMS performed in-situ immunity testing using a modified radiated susceptibility method commonly used for equipment qualification. Radiofrequency energy was applied to equipment and cabling to measure responses to EMI while preventative measures, including shielding, were used to avoid affecting nearby systems.

Testing results indicated that most equipment at the facility was immune to wireless signals of concern, with exceptions including certain pressure transmitters and radiation monitors. Based on these findings, the site implemented administrative procedures to reduce EMI risks for those systems.

The testing provided objective evidence of how plant equipment responds to wireless signals and increased confidence that wireless technologies could be implemented without adversely affecting plant operations.

Supporting Future Wireless Adoption

As wireless technologies continue to expand in nuclear facilities, AMS provides implementation assistance, objective testing, and engineering expertise to help sites evaluate equipment vulnerabilities and support safe, secure wireless deployment. Once a facility demonstrates that wireless systems do not adversely impact operations, AMS supports the deployment of wireless networks throughout nuclear environments.

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