A multipronged core power control strategy for Reaktor TRIGA PUSPATI

Abstract

At present, the power tracking performance of nuclear Reaktor TRIGA PUSPATI (RTP) is considered unsatisfactory performance due to relatively long settling time during transient and a chattering noise during steady-state power output. Application of the conventional Feedback Control Algorithm (FCA) as a power control technique is proven to be inadequate to keep the core power output stable and within tight multiple parameter constraints for the safety demand of the RTP. Hence, the present study proposed a multipronged core power control strategy improvement through manipulation of the current Control Rod Selection Algorithm (CRSA), Control Rod Speed Design (CRSD), and Power Change Rate Constraint (PCRC) which are part of the core power control design. In this paper, the profiling and analysis of the multipronged core power control strategy are presented. The model for core power control consists of mathematical models of the reactor core, FCA controller, and a series of multipronged models. The mathematical models of the reactor core are based on the point kinetics model, thermal-hydraulic model, and reactivity model. The reactor model is integrated with the FCA controller and a combination of CRSA-CRSD-PCRC models. The power tracking performance of the proposed control strategy and conventional FCA is compared via computer simulation. Overall, the results show the multipronged FCA offers a wider options for optimum operation of the TRIGA reactor.