Caldon ultrasonic C3P system
Distributed electronics architecture for leading edge flow measurement (LEFM) systems
Applications
- Nuclear power plant feedwater systems
Benefits
Enables nuclear power plant operators to
- license for measurement uncertainty recapture (MUR) power uprate
- recover megawatts lost because of differential pressure meter fouling or drift
Features
- Mass flow accuracy better than ±0.3%
- Temperature accuracy better than ±0.6 degF [±0.33 degC]
- Meets criteria for supporting up to 1.7% increase in licensed reactor power
- Internal tests that provide continuous online design basis verification
- Diagnostic CPU to provide local human machine interface (HMI) and historical data storage, isolated from normal system operation
- Intuitive touchscreen for users, with password-controlled configuration update screens
- System data from all levels available for export through the reporting function
- All-inclusive software for data monitoring and reporting, event logging, alarm indication, I/O calibration, and system configuration
- Reliable plant communications interface that supports Modbus®/TCP, ASCII Serial, and ASCII/TCP protocols via the programmable logic controller (PLC) rack
- Transmitter communication to PLCs via RS-485 or Ethernet
- Locked electronics cabinet doors
- CPU cooling options available on request
How it improves performance
The Caldon™ ultrasonic C3P system measures feedwater mass flow for MUR applications at nuclear power plants. It can be configured to monitor up to four feedwater pipes and provides centralized system integration and data output for all lines.
Automatic setup and continuous online verification capabilities assure plant operators that the system is operating within its design basis. It leverages G3 transmitter technology and PLC-based flow integration and plant communication to vastly improve system reliability compared with previous generations.
The distributed architecture is designed to enable mounting the transmitters near the meter bodies in the plant, thereby eliminating transducer cable runs to the PLC-based CPUs and leaving only a control data line to be routed. The plant communications protocol maintains backward compatibility with prior generations. Dual CPUs provide full redundancy of system flow and data integration, plant communication interface outputs, and HMI.
The C3P system enables operators to seamlessly upgrade from earlier models; it maintains the same cabinet footprints and cable termination elevations, minimizing the need for modifications to accommodate the new system. Users of older models may also benefit by reusing their existing cables, transducers, and meters when upgrading their electronics. Additionally, the system’s plant communications protocol maintains backward compatibility with previous generations.
