Evaluation of pressure-sensing concepts: A technology assessment. Final report
- Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (United States)
Advanced digital distributed control systems (DCS`s) for electric power plants will require more accurate and reliable pressure gauges than those now installed. Future developments in power plant control systems are expected to used digital/optical networks rather than the analog/electric data transmission used in existing plants. Many pressure transmitters now installed use fill fluid to separate process fluids form the gauge mechanism and are subject to insidious failures when the fill fluid leaks. Since all current pressure sensors drift with time, testing and maintenance of pressure channels occupy a disproportionately large amount of effort to restore their accuracy and verify their operability. These and similar concerns have prompted an assessment of a broad spectrum of sensor technologies to aid in selecting the most likely candidates for adaptation to power plant applications. Ten representative conventional and thirty innovational pressure sensors are described and compared. Particular emphasis is focused on two categories: silicon-integrated pressure sensors and fiber-optic sensors, and both of these categories are discussed in detail. Additional attractive concepts include variable reluctance gauges and resonant structure gauges that may not require oil buffering from the process fluid. It appears that fiber-optic sensors have the most capability for producing a significant improvement in power plant pressure sensing.
- Research Organization:
- Electric Power Research Inst., Palo Alto, CA (United States); Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- Electric Power Research Inst., Palo Alto, CA (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 10123918
- Report Number(s):
- EPRI-TR-102177; ON: UN94006729; TRN: 94:002657
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: Dec 1993
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
PRESSURE MEASUREMENT
PRESSURE GAGES
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
FOSSIL-FUEL POWER PLANTS
200104
210100
210200
COMPONENTS
POWER REACTORS
NONBREEDING
LIGHT-WATER MODERATED
BOILING WATER COOLED
POWER REACTORS
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LIGHT-WATER MODERATED
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