Heterogeneous nuclear reactor models for optimal xenon control

Thesis/Dissertation · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1984

OSTI ID:5386423

Gondal, I A

In this study a thermal nuclear reactor is modeled as a two-dimensional lattice of fuel and control rods placed in an infinite-moderator in plane geometry. The two-group diffusion theory approximation is used for neutron transport. Space-time neutron balance equations are written for two groups and reduced to one space-time algebraic equation by using the two-dimensional Fourier transform. This equation is written at all fuel and control rod locations. Iodine-xenon and promethium-samarium dynamic equations are also written at fuel rod locations only. These equations are then linearized about an equilibrium point which is determined from the steady-state form of the original nonlinear system equations. After studying poisonless criticality, with and without control, and the stability of the open-loop system and after checking its controllability, a performance criterion is defined for the xenon-induced spatial flux oscillation problem in the form of a functional to be minimized. Linear-quadratic optimal control theory is then applied to solve the problem.

• Research Organization: Illinois Univ., Urbana (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5386423
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
220100* -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Theory & Calculation
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
CONTROL ELEMENTS
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
ELEMENTS
EQUATIONS
FLUIDS
FUEL ELEMENTS
GASES
HETEROGENEOUS EFFECTS
KINETICS
NEUTRAL-PARTICLE TRANSPORT
NEUTRON DIFFUSION EQUATION
NEUTRON FLUX
NEUTRON TRANSPORT
NONMETALS
RADIATION FLUX
RADIATION TRANSPORT
RARE GASES
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTOR KINETICS
REACTORS
SIMULATION
XENON