WAVE-GUIDE ULTRASONIC LIQUID-LEVEL TRANSDUCER FOR NUCLEAR-POWER-PLANTSTEAM-GENERATOR

This paper deals with the development and utilization of a new acousti c method to control the level of the coolant in industrial power-gener ating equipment. The development research was carried out on the basis of the method of acoustic impedance, based on measuring attenuation o f a longitudinal ultrasonic wave in a waveguide sensing element. Ultra sonic attenuation is determined by the degree of submergence of the se nsing element in liquid. For this purpose waveguide ultrasonic transdu cers are used, made with specially designed technology (waveguide acou stic transducers-WAT-technology). The transducers are adapted for oper ation under extreme conditions in the water coolant with temperatures up to 350 degrees C and pressure up to 20 MPa. The paper tackles: prin ciple of operation of transducers, methods of testing under laboratory conditions, design and results of calibration in a thermophysical tes t facility, results of the operational trial of the level transducer a t the nuclear power plant in Zaporozhye. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science S.A .