Nuclear Services/Engineering Services
Mineral Insulated (MI)
Cable Assemblies
Background
In the period following Three Mile Island
(TMI), the MI (silicon dioxide [SiO2]) cable
system was developed as a post-accident
qualified cable for the nuclear industry.
The first applications for this cable product
were primarily related to core exit
thermocouples (CETs). Soon after, the
applications for this lightweight and rugged
cable expanded to heated junction
thermocouples (level indication applications),
pressure transducers, high range radiation
monitors, reference junction upgrades, and
NRC Appendix R applications.
Today, the MI cable is the design standard for
in-containment Class 1E cable applications for
the System 80+ and AP1000 reactor designs,
and is installed in over 60 pressurized water
reactors (PWRs) and boiling water reactors
(BWRs) worldwide.
Description
MI cable and connector assemblies are post-accident
qualified Class 1E hardware. The cable assemblies are
hermetically sealed through an all-welded construction
technique that, in combination with the metallic sheath
and inorganic materials, provide a high tolerance for
abnormal temperatures and pressure with minimal
susceptibility to radiation damage. The electrical
connectors feature glass-to-metal-seal technology and
an inorganic Grafoil® gasket, which eliminates the need
for periodic maintenance or change-out.
The Class 1E post-accident environmental qualification
program is field-proven and the basis for installation in
over 60 reactors worldwide since the early 1980s.
Benefits
• Cable installation is an easy process due to the
reduction in weight and size as compared to
traditional organic cables. MI cables can typically be
routed on existing plant cable trays and supports.
This benefit has been field proven in over 60 PWR
and BWR installations performed worldwide.
• The cable has a qualified life of 40 years, which can
typically be easily extended to 60 years.
• It is a cost-effective solution compared to the
periodic procurement of custom-designed organic
cables.
• The cable's all-metal exterior leaves little doubt as to
Environmental Qualification (EQ) integrity.
• The CET cable and connector upgrade reduces the
number of electrical disconnects by a factor of
6 or 7.
• Cable assemblies with maintenance-free interfacial
seals are available with Grafoil interfacial connector
 seals in place of traditional organic seals, thereby
eliminating the need for periodic change-out due to
radiation or thermal effects.
• Provides immunity to electrical noise due to
insulation that provides superior dielectric strength
properties at both ambient and elevated
temperatures. Superior noise and thermally
induced current resistance is supplied all along the
installed cable runs.
• Resists damage during and after a fire while
maintaining low-signal error.
• Eliminates mechanical damage of the electrical
connectors by using a large three-start ACME thread
on the coupling nut connection, glass-bonded
contacts, and an integral key and keyway system to
mechanically align the connector bodies well before
the engagement of the pin and socket contacts.
• Has demonstrated through independent laboratory
testing that the thermally induced current (TIC) is
less than 0.0002 nano-amps per meter during typical
400°F LOCA transient.
Experience
MI cable and connector upgrades have been installed in
the post-TMI era in over 60 PWRs and BWRs worldwide.
Specific Class 1E applications include:
• CET
• In Core Instruments
• Heated Junction Thermocouples (Level Indication)
• High Range Radiation Monitors
• NRC 10 CFR 50, Appendix R

Qualifications & Documentation

• Is qualified to Class 1E environmental and seismic

requirements of IEEE standards 323-1974 and 344-
1975, as well as NUREG 0588.

• Achieves loss-of-coolant-accident/main-steamline-
break (LOCA/MSLB) conditions of 420°F and
60 psig.

• Has seismic qualification of 12 to 25g's, depending

on application.

• Successfully passed NRC 10 CFR 50, Appendix R,

testing and ASTM one- and three-hour fire test
rating without protective wrapping or barriers.

Westinghouse Electric Company

PO Box 355
Pittsburgh, PA 15230

www.westinghousennuclear.com July 2007 NS-ES-0108 (7296)