The data acquisition system consists of a data acquisition control unit and attached instrumentation. During an experiment about 600 channels are scanned each second. A network of about 400 thermocouples are used to measure temperatures of the primary and secondary side coolant, heater rod cladding, and various structures. Mass flow rates are measured in the downcomer and cold legs using venturi tubes. About 70 differential pressure transducers are used to determine the collapsed water levels in the pressurizer, core, and steam generator secondary side in addition to providing complete circuits of differential pressure measurements around each loop.
Test data is written to the data acquisition computer hard disk after each scanning cycle.
The modern process control system controls the primary and secondary pressure, core power, and emergency cooling systems.