Nonlinear state equation and adaptive symplectic algorithm for the control rod drop

Abstract

Control rod drop is the key part of ensuring the safety of nuclear reactor shutdown. Aiming at the control rod drop problem, we established a physical model of the control rod drive line. The proposed model considers the influence of the absorbing rod’s position and hence evaluates the resultant force accurately on the control rod during the whole dropping process. Based on the physical model, a unified coupling state equation on the control rod drop and fluid flow is developed by integrating the motion variables of the control rod and the fluid into a state vector. A time step adaptive symplectic (TSAS) algorithm is proposed to solve the proposed state equation. The TSAS algorithm efficiently and stably predicts the motion states of the control rod and the fluid synchronously and accurately captures the sudden change of flow state. Numerical examples confirm the correctness of the proposed model and the TSAS algorithm. Sensitivity analysis is also conducted to discuss the effects of different parameters on the control rod drop, which provides reference and help for the design and manufacturing of the control rod drive line.