New Technology Verifies Calibration of Nuclear Plant Temperature Sensors and Saves Substantial Costs to Utilities
AMS has developed a new technique to perform RTD and thermocouple cross calibration in Pressurized Water Reactors (PWRs) using the plant computer data. With this technique, there will be no need to set up test equipment in the control room area to acquire data for the cross calibration test.
The new technique saves plants significant critical path time and reduces the cost of the cross calibration work. Data is retrieved from the existing plant computer at isothermal conditions during heat up or cool down to verify the calibration of RTDs and to provide new calibration tables for any outliers. The calibration of core exit thermocouples can also be verified.
The method has successful PWR implementation experience and is ready for immediate use in nuclear power plants. It was developed and validated under the AMS Quality Assurance (QA) program in compliance with 10 CFR 50 App. B and a comprehensive set of software QA Standards. AMS has applied for a patent for this new development.
The cross calibration method is described in NUREG/CR-5560 which AMS wrote for the U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in 1990. The NRC's position on RTD cross calibration in nuclear power plants is given in the NRC's Standard Review Plant; NUREG-0800. |
