Model-reference adaptive control applied to load-following of a space-nuclear power system

Conference · Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1989

OSTI ID:5412736

Metzger, J D; El-Genk, M S; Parlos, A G ^[1]

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1. Los Alamos National Lab., NM (USA)

Nuclear power systems are presently being investigated as an alternative for both commercial and military space power systems because of their projected longevity of 7 to 10 years, their mass advantage over other space power sources at powers above approximately 25 kW{sub e}, and their ability to operate without direct illumination from the sun. These space-nuclear power systems are being designed to supply from tens of kilowatts to multimegawatts of power for continuous operation of seven years and more. Space-nuclear power systems designs that meet these requirements will not be available for refueling or maintenance during their lifetime. To ensure that the space-nuclear power system will operate safely and will respond in a predictable and desired manner, the design of the system's controller must account for changes in the system parameters over its lifetime. This paper applies model-reference adaptive control to an increase in the power demand by the load. A model-reference adaptive controller will force the actual space-nuclear power system to follow the predictable and desired response of a reference model, despite changes in the actual system's operating parameters. Included in this paper are the model-reference adaptive control algorithm, the description of the computer simulation of a space-nuclear power system and the reference model, and results that demonstrate the application of model-reference adaptive control to a change in the load power demand. The results demonstrate that model-reference adaptive control can ensure the transient response of the system despite differences between the design of the system and the as-built system as well as for variations in the systems parameters. 5 refs., 3 figs.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE/DP
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 5412736
• Report Number(s): LA-UR-89-1982; CONF-900109-3; ON: DE89014561
• Resource Relation: Conference: 7. symposium on space nuclear power systems, Albuquerque, NM (USA), 7-11 Jan 1990
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS//MATHEMATICS, COMPUTING, AND INFORMATION SCIENCE
SPACE POWER REACTORS
CONTROL
ALGORITHMS
FEEDBACK
FLOWSHEETS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
REACTOR CONTROL SYSTEMS
CONTROL SYSTEMS
DIAGRAMS
MATHEMATICAL LOGIC
MOBILE REACTORS
POWER REACTORS
REACTORS
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
210600* - Power Reactors
Auxiliary
Mobile Package
& Transportable
990200 - Mathematics & Computers