PLC-based reactivity measurements using inverse point kinetics
- Worcester Polytechnic Inst., MA (United States)
The license specifications for the low-power [10-kW(thermal)] teaching reactor at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) limit the allowable core excess reactivity to 0.5% {Delta}k/k. Also, there are restrictions on the allowable sequences of rod movement. These two factors make it difficult experimentally to obtain differential and integral rod worth reactivity data. A programmable logic controller (PLC)-based monitoring system has been used at the WPI reactor for several applications, including reactivity measurement based on the asymptotic period method. However, for rod worth measurements at WPI, this method cannot be applied due to the low excess reactivity limit and other technical specification limitations. As a solution to this difficulty, a PLC ladder logic program has been developed to calculate reactivity using a power-history technique based on the inverse point-kinetics method.
- OSTI ID:
- 436854
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9606116--
- Journal Information:
- Transactions of the American Nuclear Society, Journal Name: Transactions of the American Nuclear Society Vol. 74; ISSN 0003-018X; ISSN TANSAO
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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