Sensors and Detectors Flashcards
Density input is normally used in steam flow instruments to convert __________ into __________.
A. mass flow rate; volumetric flow rate
B. volumetric flow rate; mass flow rate
C. mass flow rate; differential pressure
D. differential pressure; volumetric flow rate
volumetric flow rate; mass flow rate
If the steam pressure input to a density-compensated steam flow instrument fails high, the associated
flow rate indication will…
A. decrease, because the density input has decreased.
B. increase, because the density input has decreased.
C. decrease, because the density input has increased.
D. increase, because the density input has increased.
increase, because the density input has increased.
The density compensating input to a steam flow instrument is used to convert volumetric flow rate
into…
A. velocity flow rate.
B. gallons per minute.
C. mass flow rate.
D. differential flow rate.
mass flow rate.
If the steam pressure input to a density-compensated steam flow instrument fails low, the indicated
flow rate will…
A. increase, because the density input has increased.
B. decrease, because the density input has increased.
C. increase, because the density input has decreased.
D. decrease, because the density input has decreased.
decrease, because the density input has decreased.
A steam flow measuring instrument uses density compensation and square root extraction to convert
the differential pressure across the flow element to flow rate in lbm/hr.
The purpose of density compensation in this flow measuring instrument is to convert __________ into
__________.
A. volumetric flow rate; mass flow rate
B. steam pressure; mass flow rate
C. steam velocity; volumetric flow rate
D. differential pressure; volumetric flow rate
volumetric flow rate; mass flow rate
A main steam flow rate differential pressure detector was properly calibrated to produce a main steam
flow rate indication of 500,000 lbm/hr with the following initial input conditions:
Detector high pressure input = 1,000 psia
Detector low pressure input = 950 psia
The current detector input conditions are as follows:
Detector high pressure input = 985 psia
Detector low pressure input = 935 psia
Assume that the detector and associated circuitry do not have steam density compensation. Also,
assume that the main steam quality and volumetric flow rate do not change.
The current main steam flow rate indication is __________ 500,000 lbm/hr; and the current main
steam flow rate is __________ 500,000 lbm/hr.
A. equal to; greater than
B. less than; greater than
C. equal to; less than
D. greater than; less than
equal to; less than
A nuclear power plant is initially operating with the following main steam parameter values:
Main steam pressure = 1,000 psia
Main steam flow rate = 500,000 lbm/hr
Main steam pressure decreases and stabilizes at 950 psia.
Assume 100 percent quality saturated steam and that main steam volumetric flow rate is the same
before and after the pressure change.
Which one of the following is the approximate mass flow rate of main steam after the pressure
change?
A. 528,000 lbm/hr
B. 500,000 lbm/hr
C. 472,000 lbm/hr
D. 444,000 lbm/hr
472,000 lbm/hr
For water flowing through a venturi, there is a proportional relationship between flow rate and
differential pressure. For steam flowing through a venturi, the relationship must be modified to
account for changes in __________ as the steam flows through the venturi.
A. velocity
B. enthalpy
C. internal energy
D. specific volume
specific volume
A nuclear power plant is operating at 100 percent power with constant steam generator water levels.
Only main feedwater is entering the steam generators and only main steam is leaving the steam
generators. Both the main feedwater mass flow rate and the main steam mass flow rate instruments
use venturi flow sensing elements.
For the above conditions, the indication that most accurately reflects the mass flow rate through a
steam generator will typically be the mass flow rate indication for…
A. main feedwater, because condensation can adversely affect the characteristics of a steam flow
venturi.
B. main feedwater, because steam generator pressure changes affect the specific volume of steam
more than water.
C. main steam, because the enthalpy of high quality steam flowing through a venturi is constant,
unlike the enthalpy of water.
D. main steam, because a given mass flow rate of steam through a venturi develops a larger pressure
change than the same mass flow rate of water.
main feedwater, because steam generator pressure changes affect the specific volume of steam
more than water.
The most probable cause for fluctuating indication from a liquid flow rate differential pressure
detector is…
A. gas or steam being trapped in the liquid.
B. unequal temperature gradients in the liquid.
C. vortexing of the liquid passing through the flow device.
D. the valve on the high pressure sensing line being partially closed.
gas or steam being trapped in the liquid.
A properly calibrated differential pressure-type water flow detector is located several feet below a
horizontal pipe containing the detector’s sensing element. The detector was removed for inspection
and then reconnected to the sensing element with its low-pressure sensing line filled with air and its
high-pressure sensing line filled with water.
When the water system is operating, indicated flow rate will be…
A. zero.
B. equal to actual flow rate.
C. lower than actual flow rate.
D. higher than actual flow rate.
higher than actual flow rate.
How will flow rate indication be affected if the equalizing valve for the associated differential pressure
detector is fully opened?
A. Increase temporarily, and then return to the initial value.
B. Decrease temporarily, and then return to the initial value.
C. Increase to the maximum value.
D. Decrease to the minimum value.
Decrease to the minimum value.
A differential pressure flow detector is connected to a calibrated orifice in a cooling water system.
Which one of the following will cause indicated volumetric flow rate to be lower than actual
volumetric flow rate?
A. System pressure decreases.
B. The orifice erodes over time.
C. Debris becomes lodged in the orifice.
D. A leak develops in the low pressure sensing line.
The orifice erodes over time.
Flow rate is being measured using a differential pressure flow detector and a calibrated orifice. If
actual flow rate remains constant, which one of the following will cause indicated flow rate to be
higher than actual flow rate?
A. The flow detector equalizing valve is inadvertently opened.
B. A leak develops in the high pressure sensing line.
C. Debris becomes lodged in the orifice.
D. The orifice erodes over time.
Debris becomes lodged in the orifice.
Refer to the drawing of a pipe elbow used for flow measurement in a cooling water system (see figure
below).
A differential pressure (D/P) flow detector is connected to instrument lines A and B.
If instrument line A develops a leak, indicated flow rate will __________ due to a __________
measured D/P.
A. increase; larger
B. increase; smaller
C. decrease; larger
D. decrease; smaller
decrease; smaller
If the orifice in a differential pressure (D/P) flow sensor erodes such that the orifice opening becomes
larger, indicated flow rate will __________ due to a __________ D/P across the orifice. (Assume
actual flow rate remains the same.)
A. increase; larger
B. increase; smaller
C. decrease; larger
D. decrease; smaller
decrease; smaller
Refer to the drawing of a horizontal pipe elbow (top view) in an operating water system (see figure
below).
Three separate differential pressure flow detectors are connected to taps A, B, C, and D as follows:
Detector
Taps
X A and D
Y B and D
Z C and D
Assuming zero head loss in this section of pipe, how will the detectors be affected if tap D ruptures?
A. All detectors will fail low.
B. All detectors will fail high.
C. Two detectors will fail low and one will fail high.
D. Two detectors will fail high and one will fail low.
All detectors will fail low.
Refer to the drawing of a pipe elbow used for flow measurement in a cooling water system (see figure
below).
A differential pressure (D/P) flow detector is connected to instrument lines A and B.
If instrument line B develops a leak, indicated flow rate will __________ due to a __________
measured D/P.
A. increase; larger
B. increase; smaller
C. decrease; larger
D. decrease; smaller
increase; larger
An orifice is being used in an operating cooling water system to measure flow rate. Which one of the
following will cause the differential pressure sensed across the orifice to decrease?
A. System pressure decreases.
B. System flow rate decreases.
C. Debris becomes lodged in the orifice.
D. A leak develops in the low pressure sensing line.
System flow rate decreases.
Refer to the drawing of a horizontal pipe elbow (top view) in an operating water system (see figure
below). Three separate bellows differential pressure flow detectors are connected to taps A, B, C, and
D as follows:
Detector
Taps
X A and D
Y B and D
Z C and D
Assume that water is incompressible and there is no head loss in this section of pipe. How will the
detectors be affected if system flow rate remains the same while system pressure increases from 1000
psig to 1200 psig?
A. All detectors will indicate higher flow.
B. Only two detectors will indicate higher flow.
C. Only one detector will indicate higher flow.
D. Detector indication will not change.
Detector indication will not change.
Refer to the drawing of a horizontal pipe elbow (top view) in an operating water system (see figure
below).
Three separate bellows-type differential pressure flow detectors are connected to taps A, B, C, and D
as follows:
Detector
Taps
X A and D
Y B and D
Z C and D
Assuming zero head loss in this section of pipe, how will the detectors be affected if tap B experiences
a significant leak? (Assume water system pressure does not change.)
A. All detectors will fail low.
B. All detectors will fail high.
C. Only one detector will fail, and it will fail low.
D. Only one detector will fail, and it will fail high.
Only one detector will fail, and it will fail high.
A steam flow measuring instrument uses density compensation and square root compensation to
convert the differential pressure across a flow element to flow rate in lbm/hr.
The purpose of square root compensation in this flow measuring instrument is to convert __________
into __________.
A. volumetric flow rate; mass flow rate
B. volumetric flow rate; differential pressure
C. differential pressure; mass flow rate
D. differential pressure; volumetric flow rate
differential pressure; volumetric flow rate
Flow detectors (such as an orifice, flow nozzle, and venturi tube) measure flow rate using the principle
that the flow rate of a liquid is…
A. directly proportional to the differential pressure (D/P) squared.
B. inversely proportional to the D/P squared.
C. directly proportional to the square root of the D/P.
D. inversely proportional to the square root of the D/P.
directly proportional to the square root of the D/P.