Nuclear Plant Journal, January-February 2016 NuclearPlantJournal.com
31
Top: 1st 100% LOOP POWER meter
model 518 in 1974.
Bottom: Current NTM-F.
firmware is now frozen. This technology
will enable plants to manage replacement
of obsolete safety-related analog and
digital meters either individually or
throughout the I&C room and simulator
at about 50% of the cost of current
solutions.
One of my customers asked me what
I would do if I were the manager of the
I&C room. Here’s what I said. First, I
would convert all my signals to 4–20mA
current loop, since I already have the
existing wiring. Second, I would install
the best 4–20mA transmitter. Third, I
would use only loop-powered meters and
if necessary include an external supply
as an emergency backup. And finally, I
would use the same model in all locations.
That way, I would reduce my spares
inventory, and in an emergency I could
exchange a critical with a non-critical
meter just by changing the configuration
via the GUI (graphical user interface) and
the faceplate. Everything else would be
the same: just two wires to change, even
in a hot swap!
The author gratefully acknowledges
feedback on this article from several
customers.
Contact: Dr. Otto P. Fest, OTEK
Corporation, telephone: (520) 748-7900,
Critical features identified
byusers for100%form,fit,
and function replacement
of analog meters
Signal power (like analogs) and/or
external power
Signal fail detection and alarming
(unlike analogs)
Trend indication (like analogs)
100% digital technology
Auto-tricolor (R/G/Y) LED bar graph
and digital display for human-machine
interface (HMI)
Isolated
serial
communication
for machine-to-machine interface
(MMI)
Colored alarm set-up points (like
traffic lights)
100% isolation between all input/
output
Retransmission and relay outputs,
serially controlled for Distributed
Control System (DCS)/ Supervisory
Control and DataAcquisition System
(SCADA) interface
Isolated on-off drivers for enunciator
Obsolescence hardened to outlast
any existing power plants (>40 years)
Economically customizable for wire-
by-wire replacement (analog or digi-
tal; panel-mounted and rear-wired)
Fully Class 1E compliant, including
IEEE323/EPRI-TR-10-2323,
Safety
Related Instrumentation for Nuclear
Power Plant Applications
, or equivalent
Robust firmware “frozen” after Software
Verification & Validation (SV&V)
Graphic user interface (GUI) and
P/N configurator for customized
online user’s manual
Open market pricing (no single
source)
USA • Canada • Germany • UK • The Netherlands
(800) 344-3824 •
ISO 14001
ISO 9001
RE-USE
tools & equipment
rather than re-purchasing.
RECYCLE
obsolete equipment
and metals rather than dispos-
ing as radwaste.
REDUCE staffing with
UniTech’s offsite labor & RP.
Our nationwide licensed pro-
cessing and warehouse facili-
ties maximize your asset
management and recovery.
We are your ideal contaminat-
ed materials solution for:
ƒ
Scaffolding
ƒ
Tools & Equipment
ƒ
FRAC Tanks
ƒ
Lead Blankets
ƒ
HEPA & Vacuum Units
ƒ
Metal Scrap
GREEN • CLEAN • SUSTAINABLE
