Turbine steam generators

Primary coolant circulating in a PWR is heated under extremely high pressures to prevent boiling. The heated coolant enters two or more boilers called Steam Generators (SG) and boils the secondary loop coolant in a heat transfer process accomplished without mixing the fluids together. The coolant turns to steam which drives the turbine-generator.

Challenge

Thirty percent of emergency PWR shutdowns are attributable to SG level control problems. Controls balance feedwater to steam flow under all operating conditions. High-high levels can trip the turbine. Abnormally low levels can actuate emergency feedwater or a reactor shutdown. Measurement accuracy is challenged by thermal reverse effects known as "shrink and swell" and by static pressure effects.

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

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