Apparatus and method for closed-loop control of reactor power in minimum time

Patent · Tue Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1988

OSTI ID:866761

Bernard, Jr., John A. ^[1]

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1. (72 Paul Revere Rd., Needham Heights, MA 02194)

Closed-loop control law for altering the power level of nuclear reactors in a safe manner and without overshoot and in minimum time. Apparatus is provided for moving a fast-acting control element such as a control rod or a control drum for altering the nuclear reactor power level. A computer computes at short time intervals either the function: .rho.=(.beta.-.rho.).omega.-.lambda..sub.e '.rho.-.SIGMA..beta..sub.i (.lambda..sub.i -.lambda..sub.e ')+l* .omega.+l* [.omega..sup.2 +.lambda..sub.e '.omega.] or the function: .rho.=(.beta.-.rho.).omega.-.lambda..sub.e .rho.-(.lambda..sub.e /.lambda..sub.e)(.beta.-.rho.)+l* .omega.+l* [.omega..sup.2 +.lambda..sub.e .omega.-(.lambda..sub.e /.lambda..sub.e).omega.] These functions each specify the rate of change of reactivity that is necessary to achieve a specified rate of change of reactor power. The direction and speed of motion of the control element is altered so as to provide the rate of reactivity change calculated using either or both of these functions thereby resulting in the attainment of a new power level without overshoot and in minimum time. These functions are computed at intervals of approximately 0.01-1.0 seconds depending on the specific application.

• DOE Contract Number: 01-2763
• Assignee: Bernard, Jr., John A. (72 Paul Revere Rd., Needham Heights, MA 02194)
• Patent Number(s): US 4781881
• Application Number: 07/000,472
• OSTI ID: 866761
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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apparatus
method
closed-loop
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minimum
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safe
manner
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moving
fast-acting
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drum
computer
computes
intervals
function
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omega
lambda
sigma
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reactivity
achieve
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control element
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specific application
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reactor power
minimum time
closed-loop control
safe manner
control law
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/376/976/