A coordinated control methodology for small pressurized water reactor with steam dump control system

Abstract

Small pressurized water reactors (SPWRs) have complex and variable working environments with high external perturbations that challenge the operational balance and control of the primary and secondary circuits. To improve the control performance of SPWRs, a two-level hierarchy coordinated control system for SPWRs is designed in this paper. First, the equipment model of the primary and secondary circuit systems is developed. Then, based on ideal steady-state programming (ISP) with a constant coolant average temperature and a constant steam pressure, the reactor coolant average temperature, feedwater of once-through steam generator (OTSG), steam dump and steam turbine speed control systems are established by implementing PID controller. Finally, the SPWR coordinated control system is designed according to the logical relationships among the above sub-control systems, and the system is simulated and analyzed under load rejection conditions. The results show that the SPWR coordinated control system using ISP has good operational performance, and the overshoot of the coolant average temperature and steam pressure is minor under load rejection conditions, ensuring the safe operation of SPWRs.