AMS has been measuring the in-service response time of process sensors in nuclear facilities since our inception in 1977. We perform these and other tests in essentially all of the 100 or more nuclear power plants in the United States and many in Europe and Asia.
AMS not only provides sensor response time and calibration monitoring services, but also sells equipment and training services to the nuclear industry to enable the users to perform the tests in-house.
AMS offers comprehensive LPRM testing services for metal whisker burn using the CHAR Cable Characterization System. By integrating Multiplexers with multiple AMS CHAR systems, LPRM IV testing can be performed on nearly 80 detectors at a time while also providing complete electrical characterization of each detector through performance of TDR, IR, and DC Resistance measurements. This automated service significantly reduces LPRM testing time, allowing all detectors to be tested in approximately one shift.
As a supplement to our high-speed LPRM testing program, AMS offers Enhanced LPRM (EEL) IV Testing for improved metal whisker remediation. Excessive spiking and bypassed detectors due to metal whiskers is a common failure mechanism in LPRMs. The AMS EEL system allows up to 60mA of current to flow to the detector during an IV curve spiking event for improved metal whisker burn. If a poor IV curve is observed during high-speed LPRM testing using the CHAR system, AMS will then follow-up with the EEL test system to help heal the detector. The EEL test system can also be used to target bypassed or malfunctioning detectors.
