A Practical Means for Pressure Transducer Response Verification

Recent concern of possible deterioration in the dynamic response of safety-related sensors has led to broadened U.S.. Nuclear Regulatory Commission requirements in periodic testing. Time response checks must now extend through the entire protection channel, including the sensor element. To accommodate this requirement, a testing unit and test methodology were developed to permit practical in-situ response measurement for pressure and differential pressure transducers. Comparison tests were made against Statham strain gauges and a representative sample of pressure sensors in commercial use. These tests served to validate the test approach and also to characterize dynamic behavior of sensors employed in safety applications. Supplementary investigations of test accuracy and potential sensor-line effects were performed.