Feedwater Flowrate Estimation Based on the Two-step De-noising Using the Wavelet Analysis and an Autoassociative Neural Network

This paper proposes an improved signal processing strategy for accurate feedwater flowrate estimation in nuclear power plants. It is generally known that ∼2% thermal power errors occur due to fouling Phenomena in feedwater flowmeters. In the strategy Proposed, the noises included in feedwater flowrate signal are classified into rapidly varying noises and gradually varying noises according to the characteristics in a frequency domain. The estimation precision is enhanced by introducing a low pass filter with the wavelet analysis against rapidly varying noises, and an autoassociative neural network which takes charge of the correction of only gradually varying noises. The modified multivariate stratification sampling using the concept of time stratification and MAXIMIN criteria is developed to overcome the shortcoming of a general random sampling. In addition the multi-stage robust training method is developed to increase the quality and reliability of training signals. Some validations using the simulated data from a micro-simulator were carried out. In the validation tests, the proposed methodology removed both rapidly varying noises and gradually varying noises respectively in each de-noising step, and 5.54% root mean square errors of initial noisy signals were decreased to 0.674% after de-noising. These results indicate that it is possible to estimate the reactor thermal power more elaborately by adopting this strategy.