Sensia - solving challenges from the reservoir to refinery

Measurement

CALDON Ultrasonic Leading Edge Flow Meter (LEFM) CheckPlus Systems provide the highest accuracy feedwater flow measurement available for nuclear power plants worldwide.

Overview

In the United States, CALDON pioneered the effort to increase plant licensed power level by decreasing power calorimetric uncertainty, leading to a revision to the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) regulation 10CFR50 Appendix K which became known as Measurement Uncertainty Recapture (MUR) uprates. Respectively, the CALDON LEFM Ultrasonic CheckPlus has been approved by the NRC and other international regulators as a basis for MUR uprates to 1.7%, with the first implementation going live in 1999.

Features

Guaranteed highly accurate flow measurement
Accuracy specifications which include effects of all parameters that could impact performance
Verifiable performance online via continuous selfchecking circuitry
Easy to use, intuitive touchscreen offering graphical displays of real-time data and historical trending
Continuous monitoring and diagnostics software

Sensia meters use well established ultrasonic transit-time technology to measure feedwater flow with a typical uncertainty of 0.3%, regardless of upstream hydraulic conditions. By using this figure in 10CFR50 Appendix K safety calculations, rather than the 2% required for traditional metering technologies, plant operators can increase power generation up to 1.7%. This increase in power output translates to millions of dollars in additional revenue annually.

CALDON LEFM Ultrasonic

The flow meter’s dual plane chordal configuration provides the ability to correct for hydraulic disturbances such as cross flow and/or swirl, allowing for installation in most feedwater piping layouts without the need for special piping configurations to provide specific flow conditions for other flow meter technologies. Unlike conventional Differential Pressure (DP) meters normally used as the primary feedwater flow measurement system in nuclear power plants, the CALDON LEFM Ultrasonic CheckPlus system is not subject to fouling nor drift over time. Power plants can take advantage of using the LEFM system to calibrate or apply a correction factor to your plant’s current flow meter to recover any potential lost MWs. This application is also advantageous for plants planning a future uprate as a stopgap until the license amendment is approved.

CALDON LEFM CheckPlus Electronics

The CALDON LEFM Ultrasonic CheckPlus Electronics contain precision signal detection and timing circuits to perform the transit-time measurements on which velocity, flow rate, temperature and mass flow calculations are based. Continuous self-checking circuits provide confirmation that the internal clock remains within acceptable parameters and that the quality of received signals is acceptable for use.

Existing Installations

For existing LEFM customers, the latest generation of our electronics platforms have been designed to be fully backwards compatible with 2000 and 2010 systems to facilitate efficient upgrades to the latest technology and software features.

New Installations

For new LEFM installations, Sensia will perform a complimentary site walkdown to determine the best location to install your flow meter and provide a recommendation on the appropriate electronics platform to suit your needs. Sensia has installed LEFM CheckPlus systems in feedwater lines at over 90 PWR and BWR nuclear reactors worldwide. Contact Sensia to discuss how we can help you increase safety and revenue at your plant using a CALDON LEFM Ultrasonic CheckPlus System.

Product resources coming soon