An Experimental Analysis of a Nuclear-Grade Cable Based on Fire Combustion Characteristics and Pyrolysis Behavior

Abstract

Nuclear power fire protection is an important part of nuclear safety, and strengthening fire protection technology research is essential for improving nuclear safety and fire protection. The operating platform inside a containment structure is one important element in fire risk evaluation in nuclear power plants. In this paper, a combustible nuclear-grade cable in a fire scenario was firstly selected as the research object, and then the nuclear-grade cable was separately subjected to a combustion test as well as a thermogravimetric test in order to obtain the relevant thermal parameters, which provide more accurate data support for the establishment of a cable fire development and spread model. The nuclear-grade cable material data obtained from the test were compared with a civil PVC cable in order to conduct a specific analysis of the fire risk of nuclear-grade cables. This study shows that the effects of different heating rates and heating atmospheres on the thermal decomposition behavior of cable materials are meaningful and helpful in understanding whether the materials will undergo combustion processes at high temperatures and whether fire spread will occur.