Non linear analysis of out of phase oscillations in boiling water reactors

Abstract

Out of phase oscillations have been observed recently in many boiling water reactors during stability tests and also in start up conditions. Many authors have attempted to explain these regional oscillations, but the explanations given are not complete. In this paper, we develop a non linear phenomenological model that can explain, both in phase and out of phase oscillations. The neutronic loop has been described on the basis of an expansion in terms of A-modes. Furthermore, for a semiquantitative representation of the dynamics, reduced order model have been obtained reducing the number of regions, modes and energy groups considered in the problem. In this line, we propose a model that qualitatively explains the dynamic behavior of these oscillations verifying that in phase oscillations only appear when the azimuthal mode has not enough thermal-hydraulic feedback to overcome the eigenvalue separation and also, that it is possible that self-sustained out of phase oscillations arise due to the different thermal-hydraulic properties of the two reactor core lobes, if the modal reactivities have appropriate feedback gains.