Measurement of Water Flow in Closed Conduits by Chemical Tracer Method

Thermal output in a nuclear power plant is verified with calorimetric heat balance on the secondary plant. The calorimetry involves the precise measurement of the feedwater flow rate. However, the correct indication of feedwater flow rate obtained by a pressure-difference measurement across a venturi can be affected by instrument errors, fouling or a poorly developed velocity profile. This can result in an inaccurate mass flow rate and consequently an inaccurate estimate of power. The purpose of this study is to develop verification methods with accuracy better than for high precision flow measurement to be used for measuring feedwater flow rate. This chemical tracer method is a testing process that uses tracers which can be applied to quantify losses in electrical output due to the incorrect measurements of feedwater flow rate. And this system has good response to the variation of the flow rate. Accuracy of better than 0.5 percent can be expected for feedwater flow measurement, providing that the system can be stabilized during the test. This methodology is applicable to other flow systems well.