Nuclear

Typical applications

Reactor coolant flow monitoring

Reactor coolant systems maintain core temperature and transfer heat safely, so precise flow monitoring is fundamental to plant safety and performance. Instruments must operate across high pressures and temperatures, often on large diameter lines with constrained access. Non invasive methods help avoid shutdowns and reduce radiation exposure to personnel during maintenance. Where direct mass flow and density are critical (e.g., chemical conditioning streams), robust meters with temperature compensation enhance accuracy and diagnostics. UK & Ireland fleet operators prioritise low life cycle cost, rapid installation, and consistent calibration support—ensuring compliance with site procedures and national regulation. PCT provides technologies and service models aligned to these needs.

Relevant products:

• Coriolis Flow Meters (Meters only) - Coriolis meters provide direct mass flow, density, and temperature in one instrument, ideal for coolant additives and secondary circuit dosing loops. Their independence from fluid properties, plus real time density feedback, improves process control and alarm fidelity. Rugged, seal materials and electronics options help match nuclear auxiliary conditions. Integration with plant DCS is straightforward via common analog/digital outputs.

  Key benefits:

  • High mass flow accuracy
  • Simultaneous density/temperature
  • No moving parts; wide turndown
  • Robust materials for long service life

• Ultrasonic (Clamp on) Flow Meters: Clamp on ultrasonic meters enable non intrusive measurement on large coolant lines, avoiding pipe cutting and potential contamination risk. Their installation time is low, supporting outage minimisation and ALARP principles. With no wetted parts, maintenance is minimal; signal processing copes with changing media conditions. They are suited to baseline verification, balance checks, and trending for predictive maintenance.

  Key benefits:

  • Clamp on install
  • Zero pressure loss
  • Suitable for high pressure/temperature lines
  • Fast deployment and low maintenance

Purge gas control

Purge gas control protects equipment and containment boundaries, preventing ingress of moisture or contaminants and supporting safe start up and shutdown. Controllers must hold setpoints despite upstream supply variation and downstream restriction changes. In nuclear plants, purge sequences are often automated—requiring stable pressure controllers and reliable mass flow measurement for nitrogen/argon lines. System response time and repeatability are crucial to avoid overshoot in sensitive chambers. For UK & Ireland sites, integration with existing plant networks and traceable calibration are mandatory.

Relevant products:

• Alicat PC / PCD Dual Valve Pressure Controllers - PC and PCD controllers regulate pressure quickly and stably, with PCD adding an outlet vent valve to maintain tight setpoints in closed volumes with minimal gas loss. Their high speed control loop (kHz rate sensing) holds purge pressure even when downstream conductance changes during sequencing. Remote sensor variants accommodate sensing close to the process for best control fidelity. Stainless/FFKM builds suit aggressive media where needed.

• Key benefits:

  • Fast closed loop control
  • Dual valve venting for closed volumes
  • Remote sense options
  • Minimal purge gas wastage
• Gas Mixers (Fusion Flow MXM systems) - For purge streams requiring blended gases (e.g., inert balance with tracer), modular or turnkey MXM systems deliver precise multi channel mixing with software supervision. Systems scale from 2–10 inputs and 100 sccm–5000 SLPM per channel, supporting flexible sequencing across plant modes. Industrial form factors (rack/benchtop) ease deployment in control rooms or local skids.

• Key benefits:

  • Accurate multi gas blending
  • Scalable channels/flows
  • Supervisory software
  • Rapid set point changes

Containment gas sampling

Containment sampling validates plant integrity, tracking oxygen, moisture, and tracer levels in safeguarded spaces. Instruments must be intrinsically safe where applicable, with materials compatible with sampling lines and decontamination procedures. Sampling often involves low flows and varying back pressure in long runs, so pressure stabilization and wide turndown mass flow measurement are important. Portability aids campaign tests, while panel mount devices suit permanent racks. Robust communication and logging ensure auditability for UK & Ireland regulatory expectations.

Relevant products:

• Alicat Intrinsically Safe Meters/Pressure Devices (ISM, ISPC families) - ISM mass flow meters and ISPC pressure controllers/transducers provide ATEX/IECEx compliance for Zone 0/Division 1 use, enabling measurement/control directly in hazardous sampling areas. They cover broad ranges with low pressure drop options and resilient elastomers/metals. Digital/analog outputs integrate with portable loggers or fixed systems, aiding traceable records.

• Key benefits:

  • Intrinsically safe certifications
  • Broad turndown
  • Low ΔP options; multiple I/O
  • Suited to hazardous containment sampling
• Back Pressure Regulators (Equilibar) - Dome loaded BPRs stabilise sampling back pressure, yielding consistent flow to analysers across varying line conductance. Piloted electronically or manually, they keep the sensing element isolated from contaminants and can be paired with remote pressure transmitters for setpoint control. Their architecture reduces friction errors and improves accuracy in contaminated or reactive service.

• Key benefits:

  • High stability under varying conditions
  • Pilot pressure setpoint
  • Minimal moving parts
  • Precise analyser feed

Environmental stack monitoring

Environmental stacks on UK nuclear sites require continuous monitoring of flow, moisture, and other parameters to demonstrate compliance. Sampling equipment must handle low velocities, changing temperatures, and condensate formation, with reliable dew point/relative humidity measurement to correct readings. Non intrusive or low maintenance meters are preferred to reduce access time and exposure. Pressure/temperature sensors aid data correction and trending. Systems must deliver traceable, archived data with robust calibration procedures.

Relevant products:

• Humidity & Dew Point Transmitters - Dew point transmitters quantify moisture content for stack compliance calculations and filter performance checks. With fast response and industrial outputs, they integrate into CEMS or local PLCs. Appropriate sensor protection and heated sampling options help maintain accuracy in condensating lines common to UK weather patterns.

• Key benefits:

  • Accurate dew point
  • Rapid response
  • Industrial outputs
  • Supports compliance reporting
• Ultrasonic / Compressed Air Flow Meters for stack flows - Clamp on ultrasonic meters suit ducts/pipes where installation downtime is constrained, while compressed air flow meters cover auxiliary air injection and purge lines that influence stack conditions. Both deliver reliable trending data for environmental reporting.

• Key benefits:

  • Non intrusive install; minimal maintenance
  • Suited to large ducts
  • Clear outputs for CEMS integration
  • Supports ALARP

Gas blending for tracer studies

Tracer studies help validate containment integrity and ventilation performance by introducing known gas blends and monitoring distribution/decay. Mixers must produce highly reproducible compositions with rapid set point changes to support dynamic tests. UK & Ireland facilities often need portable or rack systems with audit trails and secure data interfaces. Scalability—from small lab studies to plant scale testing—minimises equipment changes across programmes.

Relevant products:

• Fusion Flow MXM Precision Gas Mixers - MXM systems offer turnkey or modular gas mixing for up to 10 inputs with flow ranges from 100 sccm to 5000 SLPM per channel. Hardened touch interfaces and configurable software enable recipe creation, logging, and rapid switching, ideal for tracer deployments. Industrial rackmount options integrate with plant systems; benchtop units support lab work.

• Key benefits:

  • Multi input precision
  • Wide ranges; fast transients
  • Supervisory software
  • Portable/rack formats for site studies
• Alicat Portable Meters (MB Series) for verification - MB meters validate delivered tracer flows and provide totalised doses during campaigns. Portable form factor and battery options suit field use, while high turndown and fast response ensure accurate verification at low and high flows. Data output aids post test analysis.

• Key benefits:

  • Portable accuracy
  • High turndown; fast response
  • Integral totaliser
  • Robust for field verification

Chemical dosing in water treatment

Reactor auxiliary water treatment relies on precise dosing of coagulants, pH conditioners, and corrosion inhibitors. Instruments must deliver repeatable microlitre to millilitre volumes and continuous metering, often against back pressure. Long service intervals and CIP compatibility reduce intervention. UK & Ireland sites favour solutions with minimal recalibration requirements and easy integration to dosing skids.

Relevant products:

• Valveless Piston Pumps / FENYX® Variable Dispense Pump - Valveless piston technology dispenses exceptionally repeatable small volumes with <1% CV, ideal for chemical conditioning. With no check valves, accuracy remains stable; wetted materials options cover aggressive chemistries. The FENYX platform integrates priming/flushing/dispensing in one compact drive, simplifying skid layouts and reducing ownership cost.

• Key benefits:

  • Ultra precise dosing
  • No valves to wear
  • Multiple wetted materials
  • Minimal recalibration
• Micro Gear Pumps (Longer) - Micro gear pumps provide smooth, continuous metering across small flows with higher discharge pressures than peristaltic pumps. Stainless/PEEK heads and brushless drives suit continuous duty in dosing loops. Pair with inline Coriolis meters (for metering verification) when required by site QA.

• Key benefits:

  • Continuous low pulsation flow
  • Compact footprint; compatible materials
  • Higher pressure capability
  • Straightforward PLC control

Vacuum system control

Vacuum systems support coating, analysis, and leak testing throughout nuclear facilities. When process gases change, maintaining chamber pressure is essential to keep mean free path and reaction conditions stable. Controllers require rapid response and low overshoot during gas introduction. UK & Ireland plants value solutions that integrate with ion gauges/analog sensors and provide remote configuration to reduce exposure.

Relevant products:

• Alicat PCD Pressure Controllers with External Sense - Using external sensor inputs (e.g., ion gauge), PC/PCD devices control chamber pressure while reactive gas flows vary, quickly restoring setpoints to stabilise process conditions. Dual valve PCD variants vent excess pressure with minimal wastage—ideal for closed volume tests. Front panel, analog, or serial control supports existing workflows.

• Key benefits:

  • Fast recovery to setpoint
  • External sense integration
  • Flexible control interfaces
  • Dual valve venting
• Dome Loaded Back Pressure Regulators (Equilibar) - Piloted BPRs hold downstream pressure in vacuum lines, isolating wear surfaces from process media and improving stability with contaminants. Manual or electronic piloting fits simple and automated systems. Their architecture reduces friction error and maintains control under variable loads.

• Key benefits:

  • Accurate setpoint control
  • Contamination tolerant
  • Manual/electronic piloting
  • Suited to vacuum processes

Pressure regulation in reactor auxiliary systems

Auxiliary systems—from sample lines to instrument air—need stable pressure regulation to safeguard equipment and assure measurement validity. Regulators must offer clean construction, reliable seals, and repeatable control. Understanding load/diaphragm mechanics helps specify devices that minimise drift. UK & Ireland sites often require bespoke connections, diaphragm seals, and materials to match plant standards.

Relevant products:

• Instrumentation Pressure Reducing Regulators (Drastar, etc.) - Precision regulators with convoluted diaphragms and poppet valves deliver smooth, repeatable outlet pressure. Proper sizing against supply pressure, setpoint, and media ensures stable control, while self venting options aid setpoint changes. Hygienic/diaphragm seals and 316L bodies match auxiliary system requirements.

• Key benefits:

  • Smooth control via diaphragm/poppet design
  • Repeatable setpoints
  • Broad materials/options
  • Self venting; engineered connections
• Back Pressure Regulators - BPRs protect upstream equipment by stabilising back pressure across varying downstream flows. Suitable for reactor sampling loops and chemical dosing returns, they improve pump efficiency and analyser feed stability. Configurations cover sanitary, industrial, and high purity service.

• Key benefits:

  • Upstream protection
  • Stable control under variable load
  • Wide configuration range
  • Integrates with dosing/analyser systems

Glovebox atmosphere control

Gloveboxes support radiochemistry and materials handling in controlled atmospheres. Maintaining low oxygen/moisture while holding pressure slightly negative or positive prevents contamination and release. Instruments must be compact, stable, and often intrinsically safe. Logging and alarms are vital for QA and compliance. UK & Ireland labs benefit from integrated pressure and humidity control with straightforward maintenance.

Relevant products:

• Alicat PC / PCD Pressure Controllers - These controllers maintain glovebox pressure precisely—accommodating ingress/egress events without drift. Dual valve PCD units vent excess pressure efficiently, improving stability during manipulations. Analog/digital control eases integration with local PLCs and alarm systems.

• Key benefits:

  • Tight pressure control
  • Efficient venting; flexible interfaces
  • Compact form factor
  • Supports QA alarms
• Humidity/Dew Point Transmitters - Dew point sensors continuously track glovebox moisture, enabling interlocks and drying cycles. With fast response and stable calibration, they support low ppm control. Outputs interface with data loggers for audit trails.

• Key benefits:

  • Low moisture detection
  • Fast response; stable calibration
  • Simple integration
  • Supports compliance logging

Humidity control for sensitive environments

Moisture affects corrosion, instrumentation accuracy, and sample integrity in nuclear facilities. Low dew point maintenance is essential in labs, hot cells, and storage areas. Sensors must provide stable readings across varying temperatures and pressures, with robust protection against contaminants. Calibration support and alarm thresholds are key for UK & Ireland compliance regimes.

Relevant products:

• Dew Point / Humidity Transmitters - Industrial transmitters offer traceable dew point measurement with robust housings and configurable outputs. Paired with local displays or PLCs, they underpin alarm schemes and trending dashboards. Sensor options address corrosive or condensating environments typical of nuclear ventilation systems.

• Key benefits:

  • Traceable dew point
  • Robust build; flexible outputs
  • Sensor options for harsh service
  • Supports alarms/trending
• Portable Leak Detection & Air Quality Articles - While not a sensor, PCT’s application guidance on leak detection and compressed air dew point supports programme improvements—reducing moisture ingress and energy waste. These best practice resources complement site instrumentation strategies.

• Key benefits:

  • Best practice methods
  • Supports ISO 50001 goals
  • Complements instrumentation
  • Practical actions for site teams

Pneumatic system flow measurement

Pneumatic systems drive valves and tools across nuclear plants; monitoring air flow supports energy efficiency and reliability. Instruments must handle compressed air lines, capture leak signatures, and integrate into maintenance workflows. Portables aid surveys; fixed meters support long term optimisation and ISO 50001 targets in UK & Ireland facilities.

Relevant products:

• Compressed Air Flow Meters - Purpose built meters quantify line consumption and detect anomalies, helping prioritise maintenance. Outputs integrate into EMS dashboards for trend analysis and benchmarking. Their installation options include inline and clamp on styles.

• Key benefits:

  • Accurate compressed air flow
  • Leak detection support
  • EMS integration
  • Energy reduction insights
• Alicat MB Portable Mass Flow Meters (for surveys) - MB meters provide high turndown, fast response field measurements for pneumatic audits. With totalisers and portable form factor, they help quantify usage and validate corrective actions.

• Key benefits:

  • Portable surveys
  • High turndown; fast response
  • Totalising
  • Supports ISO 50001 programmes