Real-time dynamic simulator for the Topaz II reactor power system
A dynamic simulator of the TOPAZ II reactor system has been developed for the Nuclear Electric Propulsion Space Test Program. The simulator is a self-contained IBM-PC compatible based system that executes at a speed faster than real-time. The simulator combines first-principle modeling and empirical correlations in its algorithm to attain the modeling accuracy and computational through-put that are required for real-time execution. The overall execution time of the simulator for each time step is 15 ms when no data is written to the disk, and 18 ms when nine double precision data points are written to the disk once in every time step. The simulation program has been tested and it is able to handle a step decrease of $8 worth of reactivity. It also provides simulation of fuel, emitter, collector, stainless steel, and ZrH moderator failures. Presented in this paper are the models used in the calculations, a sample simulation session, and a discussion of the performance and limitations of the simulator. The simulator has been found to provide realistic real-time dynamic response of the TOPAZ II reactor system under both normal and causality conditions.
- Research Organization:
- Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- Department of Defense, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-94AL85000
- OSTI ID:
- 10191402
- Report Number(s):
- SAND-94-2033C; CONF-9410181-3; ON: DE95001604; BR: GB0103012; TRN: 94:022662
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 15. aerospace testing seminar,Manhattan Beach, CA (United States),11-13 Oct 1994; Other Information: PBD: [1994]
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
REACTOR SIMULATORS
DESIGN
TOPAZ REACTOR
SPACE PROPULSION REACTORS
IBM COMPUTERS
PERSONAL COMPUTERS
DATA ACQUISITION SYSTEMS
THERMIONIC EMITTERS
THERMIONIC FUEL ELEMENTS
HYDRIDE MODERATORS
ZIRCONIUM HYDRIDES
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
210600
300400
POWER REACTORS, MOBILE, PROPULSION, PACKAGE, AND TRANSPORTABLE
THERMIONIC CONVERTERS