Maintenance of Process Instrumentation in Nuclear Power Plants (eBook)

Preface 6
Contents 7
List of Figures 11
List of Tables 17
1 Introduction 21
1.1 Reference Plant 21
1.2 On-Line Monitoring of Process Instruments Calibration 23
1.3 Dynamic Testing of Pressure Transmitters and Sensing Lines 23
1.4 On-Line Detection of Venturi Fouling 26
1.5 Measuring the Vibration of Reactor Internals 28
1.6 Detecting Core Flow Anomalies 30
1.7 CANDU Reactor Applications 30
y 31
x 31
1.8 In-Situ Response-Time Testing of Temperature Sensors 32
1.9 Testing Cables In-Situ 33
1.10 Automated Maintenance 35
2 Origins of This Book 39
2.1 Collaborative R& D
2.2 Government R& D
2.3 Utility R& D
2.4 IAEA Guidelines 44
2.5 ISA and IEC Standards 45
3 Maintenance of Nuclear Plant Instrumentation 47
4 Nuclear Plant Temperature Instrumentation 48
4.1 History of RTDs 48
4.2 Nuclear-Grade RTDs 49
4.3 Nuclear Plant Temperature Measurement Terminology 53
4.4 Problems with Nuclear-Grade RTDs 61
4.5 Problems with Core-Exit Thermocouples 67
5 Cross-Calibration Technique 70
5.1 Background 70
5.2 Test Principle 71
5.3 Sources of Cross-Calibration Data 73
5.4 Detailed Analysis of Cross-Calibration Data 78
5.5 Presenting Cross-Calibration Results 82
5.6 Effect of Corrections on Cross-Calibration Results 83
5.7 Automated Software for Cross-Calibration 83
5.8 Uncertainty of Cross-Calibration Results 84
5.9 Validating the Cross-Calibration Technique 90
5.10 Uncertainty in Cross-Calibrating Three-Wire RTDs 91
5.11 Validation of Dynamic Cross-Calibration 95
5.12 Cross-Calibrating Core-Exit Thermocouples 97
5.13 Recalibrating Outliers 97
5.14 NRC Position on RTD Cross-Calibration 103
6 Response-Time Testing of RTDs and Thermocouples 107
6.1 Reasons for Test 107
6.2 Historical Practices 107
6.3 LCSR 108
6.4 Self-Heating Test 144
6.5 Noise Analysis Technique 150
6.6 NRC Regulations 153
6.7 Factors Affecting Response Time 156
6.8 Summary 159
7 Nuclear Plant Pressure Transmitters 161
7.1 Transmitter Types 161
7.2 Transmitter Population and Application 162
7.3 Nuclear Qualification 162
7.4 Transmitter Manufacturers 168
7.5 Smart Pressure Transmitters 191
7.6 Fiber-Optic Pressure Transmitters 192
7.7 Wireless Pressure Transmitters 193
8 Characteristics of Pressure Sensing Lines 195
8.1 Design and Installation 195
8.2 Sensing Lines for Transmitters Inside Containment 196
8.3 Sensing Lines for Transmitters Outside Containment 197
8.4 Sensing-Line Problems 198
8.5 Sensing-line Dynamics 205
8.6 Summary 211
9 Measurement of Pressure Sensor and Sensing-Line Dynamics 213
9.1 Noise Analysis Technique: Description 213
9.2 Noise Analysis Technique: Assumptions 216
9.3 Noise Analysis Technique: Validation 218
9.4 Pink Noise Technique 223
9.5 Accuracy of Noise Analysis Technique 225
9.6 Experience from Testing in Nuclear Power Plants 231
9.7 Oil Loss in Nuclear Plant Pressure Transmitters 231
9.8 Oil Loss Diagnostics 235
9.9 Response Time Degradation 238
10 On-line Detection of Sensing Line Problems 244
10.1 Sensing Line Blockages 244
10.2 Air in Sensing Lines 247
10.3 Detecting Sensing Line Leaks 250
10.4 Problems with Shared Sensing Lines 252
About the Author 254
Acknowledgement 255
Acronyms and Abbreviations 256
References 259
Appendices 260
Appendix A: Bibliography 261
Appendix A Bibliography 260
U.S. Government Publications 262
Journal Articles 263
Magazine Articles 263
Technical Reports 264
IAEA Publications ( following are publications in which the author has been directly involved) 264
Books or Book Chapters 264
International Publications 265
National Publications 267
Patents (awarded and pending) 275
Appendix B NRC Position on RTD Cross Calibration in Nuclear Power Plants 276
Appendix B: NRC Position on RTD Cross Calibration in Nuclear Power Plants 277
Branch Technical Position HICB-13 Guidance on Cross- Calibration of Protection System Resistance Temperature Detectors A. Background 277
B. Branch Technical Position 279
C. References 283
Appendix C Regulatory Guide 1.118 Periodic Testing of Electric Power and Protection Systems 284
Appendix C: Regulatory Guide 1.118 Periodic Testing of Electric Power and Protection Systems 285
Regulatory Guide 1.118 - Periodic Testing of Electric Power and Protection Systems 286
A. Introduction 286
B. Discussion 287
C. Regulatory Position 287
D. Implementation 288
Value/Impact Statement 288
APPENDIX D NRC Information Notice 92-33 Effect of Snubber on Response Time of Nuclear Plant Pressure Transmitters 289
Appendix D: NRC Information Notice 92-33 Effect of Snubber on Response Time of Nuclear Plant Pressure Transmitters 290
Appendix E NRC Documents on Oil Loss Problem in Nuclear Power Plant PressureTransmitters 294
Appendix E: NRC Documents on Oil Loss Problem in Nuclear Power Plant Pressure Transmitters 295
Issue 176: Loss of Fill-Oil in Rosemount Transmitters Description 306
Conclusion 307
Index 308