IWRFRI'2000

High-Sensitivity Instrumentation for Selective Measurement of Hydrogen, Oxygen, and Natural Gas Concentrations in Gas Media of Nuclear and Thermal Power Stations
N.N. Davidenko, A.I. Kalyutik, and V.M. Konstantinov
Centre "Technical Diagnostics and Reliability of Atomic and Thermal Power Stations", St Petersburg State Technical University, 195251 St Petersburg, Russia

VM-1 Moisture Gauge

The instrument is designed for determination of the relative gas moisture content, water-vapor mass concentration, and dew point. It is used to measure the moisture content in the hydrogen at nuclear, thermal, and hydroelectric power stations, air humidity in meteorology, and gas humidity in other technological lines.

The main technical characteristics:

  • range of relative humidity measurement: 0-98%;
  • temperature measurement range: -20 to +50°C;
  • dew-point measurement range: -20 to +36°C;
  • basic relative-humidity measurement error: ±4%;
  • the measurements are displayed on an LC indicator;
  • power supply from 220 V, 50 Hz mains or two AA-type 1.2-V storage cells;
  • power consumption: not more than 190 mW;
  • overall dimensions: not over 180x80x30 mm;
  • gas-analyzer mass: not more than 300 G.

The advantages of the instrument compared to the known analogs

  • small size and low power consumption;
  • output through RS-232 and RS-485 connectors;
  • power-independent memory to store 1200 measurements.

One prototype has been produced.


PGK-06 Portable Oxygen Gas Analyzer

The instrument is designed for determination of the oxygen volume fraction, partial pressure, temperature, and pressure in gas mixtures, as well as for generation of light and audio alarm "O2 shortage" and "O2 excess". It is used to check the fire hazard in rooms, as an individual protection device for operation in closed premises, in artificial lung-ventilation equipment, in gas pipe-line repairs, in ship cargo transportation, and flue-gas analysis during boiler-room repairs.

The main technical characteristics:

  • measurement range:
  • oxygen volume fraction: 0-100%;
  • oxygen partial pressure: 0-199.9 kPa;
  • temperature: 0-90°C;
  • pressure: 600-800 mm Hg;

basic reduced measurement error:

  • oxygen volume fraction: ±1%;
  • oxygen partial pressure: ±1%;
  • temperature: ±1%;
  • pressure: ±2%;
  • time to reach the 0.9 reading level in the oxygen channel: not over 15 s;
  • instrument power supply: 220-V mains and AA-type internal storage cells;
  • gas analyzer mass: not over 500 G;
  • power consumption: not over 150 mW;
  • overall dimensions: not over 180x180x30 mm.

The advantages of the instrument compared to the known analogs:

  • it is a microprocessor-based instrument with a power-independent memory to store 1200 measurements;
  • output through RS-232 and RS-485 connectors;
  • long operational life (up to 5 y) of the electrochemical sensor.

60 prototypes have been manufactured.


TVL-80 Laboratory-Type Air Thermostat

The instrument is designed for BPC analysis of water samples in ecology, bacteriological and serological studies in laboratories and sanitary control stations.

Main technical characteristics:

  • absorption-type refrigerator;
  • temperature range covered: +15 to +45°C;
  • temperature maintenance accuracy: not worse than ±0.3°C;
  • nonuniformity of temperature distribution over the volume: not over ±0.3°C;
  • useful volume: not less than 60 l;
  • discrete temperature setting: 1°C;
  • discrete temperature indication;
  • power consumption from the mains: not over 80 W;
  • mass: not over 60 kG;
  • overall dimensions: not over 960x640x640 mm.

Advantages compared to the known analogs:

  • high temperature stability at a relatively low price;
  • low power consumption.

120 TVL-80 prototypes have been manufactured.


PGV-03 Portable Hydrogen Analyzer

The analyzer is designed for determination of the hydrogen volume fraction in gas mixtures, as well as for generation of light and audio alarms "H2 excess" and "danger". It is used in hydrogen detection in explosion-hazard rooms of nuclear, thermal, and hydroelectric stations, as well as in locating hydrogen leaks from flange connections in turbo-generator hydrogen-cooling pipes.

Main technical characteristics:

  • hydrogen volume-fraction measurement range: 0-5%;
  • allowed basic measurement error: ±2%;
  • time to reach the 0.9-level setting: not more than 15 s;
  • discrete readings down to 0.01%;
  • power supply from two AA-type 1.2-V storage cells;
  • power consumption: not over 100 mW;
  • overall dimensions: not over 180x180x30 mm;
  • gas analyzer mass: not over 300 G.

The advantages of the instrument compared to the known analogs:

  • application of a unique electrochemical sensor with a cold working electrode;
  • low power consumption compared to other methods of measurement;
  • long (up to 5 y) operating life of the electrochemical sensor;
  • output through RS-232 or RS-485 connectors.

30 prototypes have been manufactured.


PGK-04 Thermooxymeter

The instrument is designed for determination of water-dissolved oxygen and measurement of sample temperature and saturation wall. It is used in BPC analysis of water samples in ecology (water manifold, sanitary stations, nuclear and thermal power stations).

Main technical characteristics:

  • range of measurable dissolved-oxygen concentrations: 0-19.99 mG/l;
  • allowed reduced error: ±2%;
  • temperature measurement error: 0-30°C;
  • allowed basic reduced temperature-measurement error: ±1%;
  • time to reach 0.9-level reading of oxygen and temperature: not over 2 min;
  • power supply from 220 V mains and internal AA-type storage cells;
  • gas analyzer mass: not over 500 G;
  • overall dimensions: not over 180x180x30 mm;
  • power consumption: not over 100 mW.

Advantages of the instrument compared to the known analogs:

  • the thermooxymeter is a microprocessor-based instrument, which is an obvious merit compared to the known analog BPC meters and AQUA-QXY (Estonia);
  • calibration of the thermooxymeter can be carried out against atmospheric air;
  • output through RS-232 and RS-485 connectors, as well as power-independent memory permitting storage of measurement data for the last 24 h after 1 minute. Compared to Marvet, it is a substantial advantage.

10 prototypes have been manufactured.