Considerations in the design and implementation of control laws for the digital operation of research reactors
- MIT, Nuclear Reactor Lab., Cambridge, MA (US)
In this paper factors relevant to the design and implementation of digital controllers for research reactors are discussed with emphasis on the rationale for incorporating a system model in the control law. For this purpose, proportional-integral-derivative and period-generated control are compared. The latter is a model-based technique that achieves excellent trajectory tracking of nonlinear systems. It does this by combining feedback and feedforward control action in a manner that cancels the effects of the system's dynamics on the controller's performance. Model-based control is also superior in that it permits replication of some of the functions that humans perform when exercising control. In particular, models can be used to predict expected plant response and thereby facilitate diagnosis. Experimental results obtained from trials of digital controllers on both the 5-MW (thermal) Massachusetts Institute of Technology Research Reactor and the Annular Core Research Reactor that is operated by Sandia National Laboratories are included.
- OSTI ID:
- 5059999
- Journal Information:
- Nuclear Science and Engineering; (United States), Journal Name: Nuclear Science and Engineering; (United States) Vol. 110:4; ISSN 0029-5639; ISSN NSENA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Digital control of power transients in a nuclear reactor
Demonstration of the reactivity constraint approach on SNL's annual core research reactor
Related Subjects
22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
220400* -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Control Systems
220600 -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Research
Test & Experimental Reactors
ANNULAR SPACE
CONFIGURATION
CONTROL SYSTEMS
DESIGN
DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES
DIGITAL SYSTEMS
EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
REACTIVITY
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTOR CORES
REACTORS
RESEARCH AND TEST REACTORS
RESEARCH REACTORS
SANDIA LABORATORIES
SIGNALS
SPACE
US AEC
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS