Enhance Equipment Monitoring and Troubleshooting Techniques Using a Mobile Wireless Performance Monitoring Cart - MTA-MA-005

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Administrative Items
Date	12/15/2020
Functional Area Where Benefits Will Be Realized	Maintenance
Reference Implementation Guidance	Field Performance Study of the Modular Wireless Tri-axial Vibration Sensor (EPRI 3002018359) Wireless Sensor Survey and General Specification (EPRI 3002011818) EPRI’s Continuous Online Monitoring (COLM) Quick Guides (may be used to determine what type of sensors are needed based on the equipment application)
Industry SME	EPRI PRR Contact: NuclearPlantMod@epri.com
Previous Implementation	Please contact EPRI for implementation examples and contacts.
Implementation Enablers	N/A
Applicability	All reactor types All geographic regions
Keywords	Performance monitoring; online monitoring; wireless network; cart; sensors
Business Case Analysis Cross-Reference	N/A

Description

Mobile wireless performance monitoring carts provide a local sensor network to perform equipment monitoring and troubleshooting in areas of nuclear plants with limited sensors and/or limited wireless coverage. The carts consist of a local wireless gateway, a laptop computer, and a variety of sensors such as wireless gauge readers, pressure and temperature transmitters, and laser displacement sensors to monitor and collect diagnostic data for troubleshooting specific pieces of equipment. Wireless sensors transmit data to the local gateway connected to the laptop computer, which can then post the data for its ultimate use (for example, troubleshooting support, tracking and trending, etc.) on the workstation or on the business network. The multifunctional mobile cart allows for focused, short‑term monitoring, typically 0‑6 months, and subsequent relocation to a different component or system, which maximizes functionality and assistance to plant staff.

The cart system has the capability to accumulate multiple data points without the need for a vast wireless infrastructure, but for plants that are considering installing a wireless network infrastructure, this cart technology allows personnel to gain experience with remote, online monitoring prior to installation of a wireless network infrastructure. During installation or after a permanent wireless network infrastructure is installed, the performance monitoring carts can be used to extend network coverage and also continue to support equipment monitoring and advanced troubleshooting needs, reducing the number of permanently installed sensors needed.

Benefits

Benefits Estimate

Level 1 – Savings for relieving personnel effort are less than $1 million per year, however, cost savings could be significantly greater if focused monitoring helps avoid failures and troubleshoot issues in a timely manner.

Benefits Description

• Reduction in labor hours associated with in‑person monitoring.
• Reduction in personnel dose associated with in‑person monitoring, depending on the location.
• Increased equipment reliability by supporting the transition to condition‑based maintenance instead of time‑based maintenance for applicable systems.
• Increased flexibility and reduction in costs by combining multiple sensing capabilities into one integrated package.
• Potential to reduce installation of permanent sensors because the cart can be relocated to add additional monitoring to troubleshoot a variety of systems.
• Potential to detect incipient failures before occurrence and monitor degrading conditions once they are identified.
• For plants with wireless network infrastructures, can be deployed as a backup system if the network were to go down.

Costs and Schedule

Cost

Level 3 – Installation of a mobile wireless performance monitoring cart is less than $1 million. Costs typically range from $10,000 to $30,000 per cart, depending on the type and quantity of sensors required.

Schedule

Less than six months for installation of the cart. However, additional sensors may be incorporated based on application need. Lead time for sensors is typically around 3 months.

Scope Context

Per cart – The installation process includes working with the vendor to determine the type and quantity of sensors.

Risks

Cybersecurity: If the system is not properly segmented and implemented, potential cybersecurity deficiencies may result in an increase in vulnerability to cybersecurity threats. Using the cart system for monitoring only and not for operational decision making and following the cybersecurity guidance in the available reference implementation guidance will mitigate this risk.

Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC): If EMC implications are not considered, then wireless monitoring applications may adversely affect nearby equipment. Following the EPRI and U.S. NRC EMC requirements and guidance for EMC testing in the available reference implementation guidance will mitigate this risk.

SWEEP Score

Category	Level	Description
Cost	3	Installation of a mobile wireless crash cart is less than $1 million. Costs typically range from $10,000 to $30,000 per cart, depending on the type and quantity of sensors required.
Savings	1	Savings for relieving personnel effort are less than $1 million per year, however, cost savings could be significantly greater if focused monitoring helps avoid failures.
Payback	3	Payback is less than one year (inclusive) based on the ability to monitor equipment performance in a variety of areas with a reduction in manual labor hours.
Technical Readiness	3	This technology is commercially available and is already in use at commercial nuclear sites.
Licensing Readiness	3	This technology has already been implemented at nuclear power plants. No changes to the site license would be required to implement the technology. This evaluation does not include all the monitoring applications, which should be reviewed on a case‑by‑case basis.
Implementation Proficiency	2	For full remote monitoring (wireless data transmission), implementation proficiency is dependent on site‑specific experience related to wireless data infrastructure, wireless data transmission for maintenance and monitoring, and cyber‑security protocols.