Systems and methods of monitoring transmitters of an industrial facility, including a computing unit configured to receive calibration data of a plurality of transmitters, the computing unit being configured to calculate a maximum interval value between transmitter calibration and to communicate the maximum interval value to OLM system to generate a report containing calibration information related to the various transmitters.
G01L 27/00 - Testing or calibrating of apparatus for measuring fluid pressure
G01F 25/10 - Testing or calibration of apparatus for measuring volume, volume flow or liquid level or for metering by volume of flowmeters
G21C 17/10 - Structural combination of fuel element, control rod, reactor core, or moderator structure with sensitive instruments, e.g. for measuring radioactivity, strain
H04B 17/11 - MonitoringTesting of transmitters for calibration
H04B 17/21 - MonitoringTesting of receivers for calibrationMonitoringTesting of receivers for correcting measurements
2.
Methods and apparatus for calibration and response time testing of level sensors
Analysis and Measurement Services Corporation (USA)
Inventor
Hashemian, Alexander Hashem
Abstract
Systems and methods of diagnosing performance of a level sensor of a fluid test chamber, including a data acquisition and processing unit configured to receive output signals of one or more level sensors that are installed to a fluid chamber, the data acquisition and processing unit being configured to connect to the one or more level sensors to record and process the output signals to test operation of the one or more level sensors.
G01F 25/20 - Testing or calibration of apparatus for measuring volume, volume flow or liquid level or for metering by volume of apparatus for measuring liquid level
G01F 23/16 - Indicating, recording, or alarm devices being actuated by mechanical or fluid means, e.g. using gas, mercury, or a diaphragm as transmitting element, or by a column of liquid
3.
Differential pressure based level measurement systems and methods
Analysis and Measurement Services Corporation (USA)
Inventor
Hashemian, Alexander Hashem
Oakley, Cory Steven
Abstract
A fluid level measurement system, including an instrument line configured for installation within a fluid storage tank or vessel, the instrument line having a first end configured to be installed below a fluid level of the storage tank and a second end configured to be installed above the fluid level of the storage tank, the first end including a first pressure diaphragm plate configured to communicate with fluid within the storage tank, a pressure sensor configured to be connected to the second end of the instrument line, and a relief valve configured to open and allow high-pressure gas in the tank to escape through a ventilation port in order to depressurize the tank until tank pressure equalizes with the surrounding atmospheric pressure.
G05D 16/20 - Control of fluid pressure characterised by the use of electric means
G01F 23/16 - Indicating, recording, or alarm devices being actuated by mechanical or fluid means, e.g. using gas, mercury, or a diaphragm as transmitting element, or by a column of liquid
4.
SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF MONITORING OPERATION OF CONTROL ROD MECHANISMS OF NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
ANALYSIS AND MEASUREMENT SERVICES CORPORATION (USA)
Inventor
Morton, Gregory W.
Hashemian, Hashem M.
Caylor, Samuel D.
Abstract
Systems and methods of monitoring operation of control rod mechanisms of nuclear power plants, including obtaining signal values from existing plant test points of at least one component of a rod movement mechanism during operation of the nuclear power plant, utilizing obtained signal values to determine a present impedance of the at least one component of the rod movement mechanism during the operation of the nuclear power plant, comparing the present impedance to a reference impedance, and indicating degradation of the rod control system if the present impedance deviates from the reference impedance by a predetermined amount.
G21C 17/10 - Structural combination of fuel element, control rod, reactor core, or moderator structure with sensitive instruments, e.g. for measuring radioactivity, strain
ANALYSIS AND MEASUREMENT SERVICES CORPORATION (USA)
Inventor
Morton, Gregory W.
Hashemian, Hashem M.
Shumaker, Brent D.
Abstract
An automated system for on-line monitoring and coil diagnostics of rod position indicator (RPI) coils coil diagnostic, or RPI coil diagnostic system. The RPI coil diagnostic system performs coil diagnostics for a RPI system in a nuclear power plant. The RPI coil diagnostic system is in electrical communication with and monitors the outputs of the detector coils. The RPI coil diagnostic system measures characteristics of the detector coils that are indicative of the health of the detector coils and/or the connections between the detector coils and the RPI electronics.
G21C 7/08 - Control of nuclear reaction by application of neutron-absorbing material, i.e. material with absorption cross-section very much in excess of reflection cross-section by displacement of solid control elements, e.g. control rods
G21C 17/12 - Sensitive element forming part of control element
6.
In-situ determination of rod control system coil and cable impedances for nuclear power plants
ANALYSIS AND MEASUREMENT SERVICES CORPORATION (USA)
Inventor
Caylor, Samuel D.
Morton, Gregory W.
Hashemian, Hashem M.
Abstract
Systems and methods of monitoring a rod control system of a nuclear power plant, including calculating impedance of at least one coil of a rod movement mechanism non-intrusively while the system is operating, comparing a measured impedance to a reference impedance, and determining if the measured impedance deviates from the reference impedance value by a predetermined amount to indicate degradation of the rod control system.
G21C 7/06 - Control of nuclear reaction by application of neutron-absorbing material, i.e. material with absorption cross-section very much in excess of reflection cross-section
G21C 7/12 - Means for moving control elements to desired position
G21C 17/10 - Structural combination of fuel element, control rod, reactor core, or moderator structure with sensitive instruments, e.g. for measuring radioactivity, strain
Analysis and Measurement Services Corporation (USA)
Inventor
Caylor, Samuel
Hashemian, Hashem M.
Morton, Gregory W.
Abstract
Non-intrusive error detection techniques for control and shutdown rod position in nuclear reactors, including methods of monitoring digital rod position indication (DRPI) signals of a DRPI system of a nuclear power plant. The methods include acquiring digital rod position signals at a point between a DRPI display cabinet and a DRPI data cabinet of the DRPI system, and processing the digital rod position signals to identify variations in a signal level and a signal timing of the digital rod position signals to determine rod position errors of the DRPI system.
Analysis and Measurement Services Corporation (USA)
Inventor
Hashemian, Alexander
Toll, Trevor
Abstract
A method of identifying changes in a host material having a thermocouple embedded therein which includes using a Loop Current Step Response (LCSR) test method on a first thermocouple to obtain thermocouple LCSR data for the first thermocouple, recording the obtained thermocouple LCSR data within a storage medium, placing a second thermocouple identical to the first thermocouple at different location within a host material, monitoring sensor response data for second the thermocouple, comparing the sensor response data for the second thermocouple with the thermocouple LCSR data of the first thermocouple stored within the storage medium and identifying changes in the host material based on differences in sensor response data for the second thermocouple based on the stored thermocouple LCSR data of the first thermocouple.
G01K 7/00 - Measuring temperature based on the use of electric or magnetic elements directly sensitive to heat
G01K 1/00 - Details of thermometers not specially adapted for particular types of thermometer
G01K 7/02 - Measuring temperature based on the use of electric or magnetic elements directly sensitive to heat using thermoelectric elements, e.g. thermocouples
G01K 15/00 - Testing or calibrating of thermometers
9.
Systems and methods of measuring temperature in industrial environments
Analysis and Measurement Services Corporation (USA)
Inventor
Hashemian, Hashem M.
Abstract
A temperature detector and method of measuring temperature to obtain temperature readings in environments, such as fluids and gasses, by measuring electrical characteristics of the temperature detector that are influenced by the temperature. The temperature detector can be arranged such that a plurality of measurements can be obtained to provide sufficient diversity and redundancy of the measurements for enhanced diagnostics to be performed, such as optimization for fast dynamic response, calibration stability, in-situ response time testability, and in-situ calibration testability.
G01K 7/00 - Measuring temperature based on the use of electric or magnetic elements directly sensitive to heat
G01K 15/00 - Testing or calibrating of thermometers
G01K 7/18 - Measuring temperature based on the use of electric or magnetic elements directly sensitive to heat using resistive elements the element being a linear resistance, e.g. platinum resistance thermometer
G01K 7/02 - Measuring temperature based on the use of electric or magnetic elements directly sensitive to heat using thermoelectric elements, e.g. thermocouples
10.
High resolution digital rod position indication system for nuclear power plants
Analysis and Measurement Service Corporation (USA)
Inventor
Morton, Gregory M.
Hashemian, Hashem M.
Shumaker, Brent D.
Beverly, Danny D.
Sexton, Casey D.
Abstract
A high resolution digital rod position indication (high resolution DRPI) system having improved resolution. The high resolution DRPI system monitors the rod control cluster and provides an indication of the rod position with precision to a single step. In addition, the high resolution DRPI system is capable of producing a rod position output compatible with existing rod control systems. The improved resolution of the high resolution DRPI system allows the actual position of the control rods to be continuously monitored and eliminates the need for or reduces the frequency of offline re-initialization of the step counters.
Analysis and Measurement Services Corporation (USA)
Inventor
Hashemian, Hashem M.
O'Hagan, Ryan Douglas
Abstract
A pitot tube diagnostic system including a data acquisition unit to acquire an output signal of a pitot-static system, the output signal having a static component and a dynamic component, and a processing unit to monitor the dynamic component for one or more characteristics that deviate from one or more predetermined reference characteristics to indicate impairment of the pitot-static system.
G01P 5/16 - Measuring speed of fluids, e.g. of air streamMeasuring speed of bodies relative to fluids, e.g. of ship, of aircraft by measuring differences of pressure in the fluid using Pitot tubes
G01F 25/00 - Testing or calibration of apparatus for measuring volume, volume flow or liquid level or for metering by volume
12.
Control rod position indication systems and methods for nuclear power plants
Analysis and Measurement Services Corporation (USA)
Inventor
Sexton, Casey D.
Beverly, Danny D.
Morton, Gregory W.
Hashemian, Hashem M.
Shumaker, Brent D.
Abstract
Systems and methods of monitoring position information of a control rod in a nuclear reactor, including detecting an output signal induced by movement of a control rod with respect to at least one detection coil of the control rod, the output signal having identifiable characteristics representative of a plurality of positions of the control rod within the at least one detection coil, and processing the identifiable characteristics to derive the positions of the control rod within the at least one detection coil.
G21C 7/08 - Control of nuclear reaction by application of neutron-absorbing material, i.e. material with absorption cross-section very much in excess of reflection cross-section by displacement of solid control elements, e.g. control rods
Analysis and Measurement Services Corporation (USA)
Inventor
Morton, Gregory W.
Hashemian, Hashem M.
Caylor, Samuel
Mcculley, Jacob
Abstract
A diagnostic system to monitor digital rod position indication (DRPI) signals of a DRPI system of a nuclear power plant, including a digital diagnostic unit connected between a DRPI display cabinet and a DRPI data cabinet of the DRPI system to monitor digital rod position signals of the DRPI data cabinet. The digital rod position signals include digital rod address signals and digital rod position data signals such that the digital diagnostic unit detects signal level variation and signal timing variation of the digital rod address signals and the digital rod position data signals to determine rod position errors of the DRPI system.
Analysis and Measurement Services Corporation (USA)
Inventor
Hashemian, Hashem M.
Morton, Gregory W.
Shumaker, Brent D.
Beverly, Danny D.
Sexton, Casey D.
Abstract
An advanced digital rod position indication (ADRPI) system having rod drop monitoring capability. When a reactor trip occurs, the ADRPI system derives the rod drop time from the signals induced in the detector coils by the falling drive rods. The ADRPI system is linked to the reactor trip breaker to provide a reference point to allow accurate timing of the rod drop times.
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