INSTRUMENTATION IN NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS

ABSTRACT

Nuclear power plant instrumentation and control (I&C) consists of hardware that controls
and ensures the safety of nuclear power plants by acquiring data from sensors monitoring the
status of process variables such as temperature, pressure, and level conditions and isolates
these sensor signals; displays and processes the sensor data on recorders, indicators, and the
plant computer; and issues commands to controllers, safety logic circuitry, or safety actuation
systems. The I&C systems of nuclear power plants depend primarily on the measurement
of process temperature, pressure, level, and flow, and to a lesser extent on the monitoring
of neutron flux. These measurements are made using numerous sensors installed in the
plant’s primary and secondary systems or “loops.” The primary system carries highly
pressurized water through the nuclear reactor core. As its temperature increases near the core,
it causes water flowing through an adjoining secondary feed water loop to turn into steam,
which drives the plant’s generators.

For measuring temperature, RTDs and thermocouples are the most commonly used sensors
for I&C purposes, although thermistors are also seen in nuclear power plants for less
important applications. Often level and flows are measured using a differential-pressure
sensor. Neutron flux detectors are also used in nuclear power plants, but they are typically
used for monitoring purposes rather than for process control.

Figure 1 shows the primary and secondary systems of a pressurized water reactor (PWR)
and the typical locations of process sensors in this type of reactor. There are approximately
one thousand important pressure, level, and flow transmitters feeding the control, safety, and
monitoring systems of a PWR; one hundred temperature sensors; and twenty neutron
detectors, including both in-core neutron detectors and ex-core neutron detectors.

Figure 1. One Loop of a PWR

The instrumentation and control (I&C) systems of a nuclear power plant (NPP) have
three major roles.

Firstly, they are the ‘eyes and ears’ of the operator. If properly planned, designed,
constructed and maintained, they provide accurate and appropriate information and permit
judicious action during both normal and abnormal operation.

Secondly, under normal operating conditions they provide automatic control, both of the
main plant and of many ancillary systems. This allows the operator time to observe plant
behaviour and monitor what is happening so that the right corrective action can be taken
quickly, if required.

Thirdly, the I&C safety systems protect the plant from the consequences of any mistakes
which the operator or the automatic control system may make. Under abnormal conditions
they provide rapid automatic action to protect both the plant and the environment.

The I&C requirements of an NPP are, in most cases, more complex and diverse than
those of a conventional power plant. There are many reasons for this, some of which are
given below:

- The availability of an NPP is usually of greater concern owing to the higher capital
cost. Ensuring plant availability is very dependent on the reliable measurement of
plant parameters and on their control.

- Owing to the inaccessibility of the reactor during operation, its status and that of its
associated systems must be displayed in, and manipulated from, a central control
room.

- Highly reliable redundant safety systems are required to ensure automatic safe
shutdown when necessary to prevent damage to equipment and personnel.

VIPIN CHAPLOT (Reg. No.: K-33)

(chaplot_vipin@yahoo.com) (+91-9913377907)

APARNA SINHA (Reg. No.: K-33)

(aparna_ahd@yahoo.co.uk) (+91-9898924476)

INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY,

NIRMA UNIVERSITY,

AHMEDABAD