Research on the Design and Application of Guided Wave Radar Level Gauges for Nuclear Power Plants

The liquid level measurement accuracy of key equipment in nuclear power plants (such as condensers, high-pressure heaters, low-pressure heaters, and deaerators) directly affects the operational safety and economy of the unit, while traditional level gauges like float-type and differential pressure-type ones are prone to issues such as jamming and false liquid levels under high-temperature and high-pressure steam conditions; in response to the requirements of special operating conditions in nuclear power plants, this paper has developed a domestically produced high-temperature and high-pressure steam-compensated guided wave radar level gauge, which, based on the principle of Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) and time equivalent sampling technology, has broken through key technologies including dynamic steam compensation, steam penetration prevention, and false echo prevention from condensation, and through structural optimization and algorithm improvement, has achieved a measurement accuracy of ±3 mm under the 380 °C/10 MPa condition; verified by environmental tests, electromagnetic compatibility tests, and long-term stability tests, the product performance has reached the level of international counterparts, enabling the domestic substitution of liquid level measurement equipment in nuclear power plants.