Controlled chemical tracer injection system

The controlled chemical tracer injection system introduces a soluble tracer into the secondary circuit pipes of power generation plants.

+33 2 52 56 04 20

Ask for a quote

THE SOLUTION PROVIDED BY LF TECHNOLOGIES

Human-Machine Interface

Mechanical Design

Our client, a market leader, is a producer and supplier of electricity in France and Europe for companies, local authorities and individuals.

Main functions

Objective

The tracer injection system is intended for the introduction of a controlled amount of a soluble tracer (fluorescein type) into the secondary circuit pipes of power generation plants, for the purpose of measuring a flow rate, by analysing the dissolution of this tracer.

Problematic Issues

The injection system developed must make it possible to provide a perfectly dosed tracer solution before its injection into the pressurised circuits.

Solution and Result

There are two tanks on the tracer injection bench. One, with a volume of 10 litres, contains the tracer solution dissolved in water. It is also equipped with a motorised agitator. The other tank, containing 100 litres of water, is used to achieve the desired concentration.

A servo-pump, consisting of 2 pairs of servo-controlled pistons, pumps the required flow rate into each tank. Each piston chamber is fitted with a pressure sensor.

The temperatures of the tracer solution and the water are measured in order to convert the volume flow rate into a mass flow rate. At the outlet of the pumping assembly, a static mixer homogenises the solution. 3-way valves, located between the outlet valve and the static mixer, allow the fluid to be directed to each tank to ensure closed-circuit purging.

Operation and settings are controlled by an internal PC and touch screen. The specific control software, developed in LabVIEW by our programmers, enables the parameters to be adjusted, the measured values to be displayed and the tests carried out to be recorded.

Products testedA control PC, using software developed under LabVIEW, performs the control and measurement functions.

Secondary circuit of a power station

The primary circuit communicates with a second closed circuit, called the secondary circuit, via a steam generator. In this steam generator, the hot water in the primary circuit heats the water in the secondary circuit, which is transformed into steam.