The Investigation of UFM Application to CANDU Control

Abstract

This paper assesses the feasibility of using an ultrasonic flow meter (UFM) for the feedwater measurement used in steam generator level control of CANDU plants, instead of the traditional flow meter. The UFM provides enough capabilities to replace the traditional flow meter. In addition, the UFM provides the capability to increase reactor thermal power by using the method of measurement uncertainty recapture (MUR) power uprate. Therefore, the introduction of UFM into CANDU provides two benefits at one time, cost reduction by eliminating the traditional flow meter and increased power by MUR power uprate.