Nuclear I&C
Modernization
Update
By Otto Fest, OTEK Corporation.
Otto Fest
Dr. Fest attended Polytechnic University
(Mexico) where he graduated with a BS
in EE. He taught
in vocational
schools and was an
assistant professor
until offered
a scholarship
by Heidelberg
University and
Armour Research
Foundation in 1960.
He opted to attend
Illinois Institute
of Technology
Research Institute
(IITRI) and
graduated with a
Ph.D. in EE.
Dr. Fest worked
for Armour Research Foundation (ARF)
in advanced solid state research and
co-authored several patent papers. He
was a contributor to the development of
the PBX at Automatic Electric Co. and
then joined Zenith Radio Corp. under
contract with NASA, working on the
Apollo program. In 1974 he established
OTEK Corporation.
It all began after the 2011 Fukushima
accident, when I read about the flooded
emergency DC generator that failed to
charge the batteries for the pumps for the
spent fuel pool. This failure prompted the
NRC to mandate dual and independently
powered instruments for spent fuel pools
to avoid operator misinterpretation of
a dead signal or stuck needle (NRC
directive EA-12-051,
Order Modifying
Licenses with Regard to Reliable Spent
Fuel Pool Instrumentation
).
This was a situation crying out
for current-loop technology, a classic
solution for monitoring a signal without
an external power source. I have created
many innovative digital
panel meters and have
received many patents
for my work on using
free existing energy
from the current loop,
so I decided to find a
current-loop solution
that
would
help
nuclear power plants
modernize and digitize
their instrumentation.
With
assistance
from customers, OTEK
developed a “must-
have” list of features
(see sidebar on page
31). It was a very de-
manding set of speci-
fications for a small company with only
three engineers, but we got to work on it
and rose to the occasion. We successfully
designed a meter that operates solely on
the power of the AC or DC signal—i.e., on
loop power—and that replaces in form, fit,
and function, obsolete AC or DC analog
meters based on 1800s technology and ob-
solete digital meters from the 1970s.
In 2013, at the American Nuclear
Society winter conference, I introduced
three prototypes from our new NTM
(New Technology Meter) line. The
attendees who saw them were positively
impressed and encouraged me to proceed.
However, our experience at the
conference showed us two important
things. First, competitive pricing would
be an important feature to add to our list.
Second, demonstrations of the prototypes
revealed a sticking point—literally. The
demonstration panel included brand-new
GE-180 (now YE-180) and DB40 analog
meters (identical to the Class 1E versions
but not certified). But when the signal fell
below approximately 8mA, the display’s
needle didn’t move unless I tapped it—it
was stuck! So, I had one more item to add to
my long list of requirements: post-mortem
detection and alarming of a failed signal.
Back at the office, I got to work on
how to overcome the “dead signal or
stuck needle” problem. The solution? I
added a super capacitor in series with the
current loop. It stores energy when the
loop is normal and powers the meter’s
circuitry and its bright, tricolor LED
display if the loop fails. The display
and the isolated serial and on-off alarm
outputs are powered for approximately 30
seconds after the loop fails. This solution
to the newest feature requirement became
part of our fifth patent on loop power
technology (patent no. 9,054,725 B1). I
give a lot of credit for the patent to our
customers for their help in focusing on
the development process.
We’ve made the new meters as
adaptable as possible: no more expensive
non-recurring engineering! Because
of the common firmware and modular
hardware design of the NTM series,
OTEK is able to inexpensively develop
new form factors to meet its customers’
needs, as long as its patented technology
and published specifications can be
used. The technology is suitable for
applications with at least 10 mW AC/DC
signal power in the loop.
Customers tell us that it would fit
many of their applications, especially
since they do not have to change existing
panel mounting or wiring. They say
that the robust design is a plus, as is the
ease of configuration and maintenance;
furthermore, the new meters share the
same mechanical construction as OTEK’s
HiQ series meters, which operators have
been using for more than 20 years.
The NTMs’ loop power has
been 100% tested and qualified by an
independent 10CFR50, Appendix B,
Quality Assurance Criteria for Nuclear
Power Plants and Fuel Reprocessing
Plants,
qualifier; we are awaiting an
“outage” for installation. Our goal is to
become an NQA1 Appendix B qualifier
and provide fully Class 1E-qualified
NTMs in the very near future. EMI and
RFI testing and software verification and
validation are 100% completed, and the
30
NuclearPlantJournal.com Nuclear Plant Journal, January-February 2016
