Abstract
Power level control is one of the critical functions in the instrument and control system of nuclear power plants (NPPs). In most power level control systems of NPPs, the power level or average neutron flux in reactor cores provided by out-of-core neutron sensors are usually measured as feedback of power control systems, while, as critical measuring devices, there is a risk of damage to out-of-core neutron sensors. For improving the operation reliability of NPPs under the neutron sensors’ failure, a power control system based on power observer is developed in this work. The simulation based on NPP simulator shows the power control system based on the observer is effective when neutron sensors fail.
Highlights
Ensuring safe and effective operations of nuclear power plants (NPPs) is the precondition during the development [1]
In most power control systems of NPPs, the average neutron flux in reactor cores provided by out-of-core neutron sensors is usually measured as feedback of power control systems, which can be shown as Figure 1 [2]
Some core power control methods are developed gradually, including optimal control [3, 4], neural network [5,6,7], fuzzy logical control [8], slide mode control [9, 10], model predictive control [11,12,13], and fractional order control [14, 15]. ese control methods have to depend on the neutron flux measurement, while, as critical measuring devices, there is a risk of damage to out-of-core neutron sensors [16]. e neutron sensors are difficult to be replaced and maintained online
Summary
Ensuring safe and effective operations of nuclear power plants (NPPs) is the precondition during the development [1]. In most power control systems of NPPs, the average neutron flux in reactor cores provided by out-of-core neutron sensors is usually measured as feedback of power control systems, which can be shown as Figure 1 [2]. Erefore, it is possible to rebuild the neutron flux and core power level according to the coolant temperature in the secondary loop, when the out-of-core neutron sensors fail. For improving the operation reliability of NPPs under the neutron sensors’ failure, a power control system based on power observer is developed in this work. A common NPP dynamic model containing neutron kinetic and thermal-hydraulic is built, and the formulation of control problem about power level control under neutron sensors’ failure is presented; after that, based on the separation principle, the power level observer and power level controller are developed independently; at last, the effectiveness of the power level controller based on the observer is verified
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