Direct Digital Controller for an Automatic Sodium Plugging Meter

摘要

A plugging meter is a device for monitoring the impurity level of liquid sodium. It is used to measure the temperature at which an impurity precipitates or re-dissolves at a restricting orifice. The concentration of the impurity may be then deduced from known solubility/temperature relationships. A software controller for a sodium plugging meter has been implemented on a PDP-11 using SWEPSPEED. The algorithm used to perform both flow and temperature control functions is based on a modified standard three-term controller. Both design and operation of the controller are described. The functions which may be performed by the controller are: (i) maintain a steady temperature at the restricting orifice, (ii) perform a temperature ramp at a rate defined by the operator, and (iii) maintain a partial plug of impurities at the orifice by appropriate manipulation of the temperature. Accuracies so far achieved are approximately +- 5% for flow control and better that +- 1 exp 0 C for temperature control. (Atomindex citation 09:355630)