Validation of Smart Sensor Technologies for Instrument Calibration Reduction in

This report presents key results of a research and development project to validate new techniques for on-line testing of calibration drift in the process instrumentation channels of nuclear power plants. These techniques generally involve a computer-based data acquisition and data analysis system to trend the output of a large number of instrument channels and identify the channels that have drifted out of tolerance. The authors demonstrate that replacing conventional surveillance tests with on-line testing promotes plant efficiency by helping to limit calibration to those channels that actually need it.