A Meteorologically Operated Stack Control System

Abstract

The standard deviation of wind direction and the mean wind speed have been incorporated in to a system for controlling the release of radioactive gaseous wastes from the 200-ft stack of the Enrico Fermi Atomic Power Plant. The meteorological sensor used in the system is a Bendix-Friez Aerovane, located on top of a 100-ft meteorological tower near the stack. Data from the Aerovane are processed by a small analog computer whose outputs are displayed on the control board of the reactor control room and recorded on strip chart recorders. The display enables the reactor operator to know whether the stack is open to the atmosphere or whether the gases are being stored in containment tanks. Averaging times of the meteorological variables may be switched to 3, 6, 12 or 24 minute periods. The paper concludes with a discussion of several representative records from the computer and the Aerovane, pointing out some of the interesting features of this system.