Multi-agent-based anticipatory control for enhancing the safety and performance of Generation-IV nuclear power plants during long-term semi-autonomous operation

Abstract

The use of multi-agents and anticipatory control to improve the performance and safety of nuclear power plants is discussed. The propose program seeks to advance and test via simulation a new control approach for the long-term semiautonomous and economically competitive operation of Generation-IV nuclear power plants. The approach exploits a simple but potentially powerfull idea: In order to regulate themselves in a semi-autonomous manner and be protected from potential anomalies, Generation-IV plants should act proactively, that is, effect control in anticipation of (not just in response to) potential contingencies. It is proposed to envelop the plant with two anticipatory control blankets, one pertaining to problems emerging due to wear and fatigue, and the other pertaining to unanticipated design basis events. Nuclear power plants are by their design well suited for the application of intelligent agents to carry out the safety assurance functions as they are well instrumented for purpose of defining their safety status. Each of the monitoring and control subsystems can be “agentized; i.e., legacy (existing) codes can be encapsulated in an agent “wrapper”, enabling critical information to be autonomously distributed to any agent that needs it to perform its prescribed task.