Apparatus and method for closed-loop control of reactor power in minimum time
Abstract
Closed-loop control law for altering the power level of nuclear reactors in a safe manner and without overshoot and in minimum time. Apparatus is provided for moving a fast-acting control element such as a control rod or a control drum for altering the nuclear reactor power level. A computer computes at short time intervals either the function: .rho.=(.beta.-.rho.).omega.-.lambda..sub.e '.rho.-.SIGMA..beta..sub.i (.lambda..sub.i -.lambda..sub.e ')+l* .omega.+l* [.omega..sup.2 +.lambda..sub.e '.omega.] or the function: .rho.=(.beta.-.rho.).omega.-.lambda..sub.e .rho.-(.lambda..sub.e /.lambda..sub.e)(.beta.-.rho.)+l* .omega.+l* [.omega..sup.2 +.lambda..sub.e .omega.-(.lambda..sub.e /.lambda..sub.e).omega.] These functions each specify the rate of change of reactivity that is necessary to achieve a specified rate of change of reactor power. The direction and speed of motion of the control element is altered so as to provide the rate of reactivity change calculated using either or both of these functions thereby resulting in the attainment of a new power level without overshoot and in minimum time. These functions are computed at intervals of approximately 0.01-1.0 seconds depending on the specific application.
- Inventors:
-
- (72 Paul Revere Rd., Needham Heights, MA 02194)
- Issue Date:
- OSTI Identifier:
- 866761
- Patent Number(s):
- 4781881
- Application Number:
- 07/000,472
- Assignee:
- Bernard, Jr., John A. (72 Paul Revere Rd., Needham Heights, MA 02194)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
G - PHYSICS G21 - NUCLEAR PHYSICS G21C - NUCLEAR REACTORS
Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02E - REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- DOE Contract Number:
- 01-2763
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- apparatus; method; closed-loop; control; reactor; power; minimum; time; law; altering; level; nuclear; reactors; safe; manner; overshoot; provided; moving; fast-acting; element; rod; drum; computer; computes; intervals; function; rho; beta; omega; lambda; sigma; functions; specify; rate; change; reactivity; achieve; specified; direction; speed; motion; altered; provide; calculated; resulting; attainment; computed; approximately; 01-1; depending; specific; application; control element; nuclear reactors; power level; control rod; nuclear reactor; time interval; specific application; time intervals; reactor power; minimum time; closed-loop control; safe manner; control law; loop control; /376/976/
Citation Formats
Bernard, Jr., John A. Apparatus and method for closed-loop control of reactor power in minimum time. United States: N. p., 1988.
Web.
Bernard, Jr., John A. Apparatus and method for closed-loop control of reactor power in minimum time. United States.
Bernard, Jr., John A. Tue .
"Apparatus and method for closed-loop control of reactor power in minimum time". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/866761.
@article{osti_866761,
title = {Apparatus and method for closed-loop control of reactor power in minimum time},
author = {Bernard, Jr., John A.},
abstractNote = {Closed-loop control law for altering the power level of nuclear reactors in a safe manner and without overshoot and in minimum time. Apparatus is provided for moving a fast-acting control element such as a control rod or a control drum for altering the nuclear reactor power level. A computer computes at short time intervals either the function: .rho.=(.beta.-.rho.).omega.-.lambda..sub.e '.rho.-.SIGMA..beta..sub.i (.lambda..sub.i -.lambda..sub.e ')+l* .omega.+l* [.omega..sup.2 +.lambda..sub.e '.omega.] or the function: .rho.=(.beta.-.rho.).omega.-.lambda..sub.e .rho.-(.lambda..sub.e /.lambda..sub.e)(.beta.-.rho.)+l* .omega.+l* [.omega..sup.2 +.lambda..sub.e .omega.-(.lambda..sub.e /.lambda..sub.e).omega.] These functions each specify the rate of change of reactivity that is necessary to achieve a specified rate of change of reactor power. The direction and speed of motion of the control element is altered so as to provide the rate of reactivity change calculated using either or both of these functions thereby resulting in the attainment of a new power level without overshoot and in minimum time. These functions are computed at intervals of approximately 0.01-1.0 seconds depending on the specific application.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1988},
month = {Tue Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1988}
}