Spent fuel pools

One-third of the total fuel load of a reactor is removed from the core every 12 to 18 months and replaced with fresh fuel. Spent fuel rods generate intense heat and high radiation and are stored underwater in pools with depths of 20 to 40 feet. The water cools the fuel and provides radiation shielding. Spent fuel is later sent for reprocessing or dry cask storage.

Challenge

Without cooling, the spent fuel pool water will heat up and boil. Exposed fuel assemblies will overheat, melt or combust. Pool level is tightly controlled and water is continuously cooled by recirculation to heat exchangers and then back to the pool to resume cooling. High and low level alarms as well as redundant continuous level indication are typically required.

Consult factory for Nuclear Qualified instruments and specific model codes.

Related products

Displacer Switch
Magnetrol

Displacer switches – single, dual and tri-switch series

Single-Stage Switches

Series A10 displacer type level measurement units are wide differential units calibrated to actuate as a liquid level reaches a given displacer and to deactuate when the level reaches a second displacer. Single stage, wide differential displacer switches are factory calibrated yet field-adjustable to operate over a wide level differential band.

The minimum differential band is approximately 6 inches (152 mm) in water and varies somewhat with liquid specific gravity. The maximum differential is determined by the length of the displacer suspension cable. Series A15 units are calibrated to operate over a narrow level differential band and are ideally suited for liquid level alarm applications on either high or low level.

Dual-Stage Switches

Series B10 displacer type level measurement units are wide differential tandem switches that are factory calibrated with a choice of several switch operating sequences designed to meet virtually any application.

Series B15 units are narrow differential tandem switches that are factory calibrated. Each switch actuates at a different level.

Tri-Stage Switches

Series C10 displacer type level measurement units utilize three electrically separate control signals in a selected sequence in response to liquid level changes.

Series C15 units are wide differential switches with a choice of several operating sequences combining wide and narrow level differential and are factory calibrated.

Other applications

Do you want personal advice for your specific control process? 

Contact your local AMETEK Level Measurement Solutions representative!

or contact us with any questions.

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