• Proceedings of the Korean Nuclear Society Conference
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• 1998.05a
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• pp.149-154
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• 1998

A subcritical reactor driven by a linear proton accelerator has been considered as a nuclear waste incinerator at Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute(KAERI). Since the multiplication factor of a subcritical reactor is less than unity, to compensate exponentially decreasing fission neutrons from spallation reactions are essentially required for operating the reactor in its steady state. furthermore, the profile of accelerator beam currents is very important in controlling a subcritical reactor, because the reactor power varies in accordance of the profile of external neutrons. We have developed a code system to find numerical solutions of reactor kinetics equations, which are the simplest dynamic model for controlling reactors. In a due course of our previous numerical study of point kinetics equations for critical reactors, however, we learned that the same code system can be used in studying dynamic behavior of the subcritical reactor. Our major motivation of this paper is to investigate responses of subcritical reactors for small changes in thermal hydraulic parameters. Building a thermal hydraulic model for the subcritical reactor dynamics, we performed numerical simulations for dynamic responses of the reactor based on point kinetics equations with a source term. Linearizing a set of coupled differential equations for reactor responses, we focus our research interest on dynamic responses of the reactor to variations of the thermal hydraulic parameters in transient phases.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.452-457
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• 1996

A system, such as a reactor point kinetics equation, can be solved with Adomian Decomposition Method (ADM) which uses the notion that all solutions and operators can be expressed as an infinite sum of those basis states, like Adomian polynomials. In this work, ADM is applied to point reactor kinetics equations for step reactivity insertion, ramp input of reactivity, and nonlinear feedback cases without linearization approximation. The results of ADM are more accurate and faster than those of other existing methods, even though we use comparatively large time step sizes.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.1340-1346
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• 2020

The aim of this paper is to explore the 8th-order Adams-Bashforth-Moulton (ABM8) method in the solution of the point reactor kinetics equations. The numerical experiment considers feedback reactivity by Doppler effects, and insertions of reactivity. The Doppler effects is approximated with an adiabatic nuclear reactor that is a typical approximation. The numerical results were compared and discussed with several solution methods. The CATS method was used as a benchmark method. According with the numerical experiments results, the ABM8 method can be considered as one of the main solution method for changes reactivity relatively large.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.94-101
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• 2015

This paper presents findings on the second-order sliding-mode controller for a nuclear research reactor. Sliding-mode controllers for nuclear reactors have been used for some time, but higher-order sliding-mode controllers have the added advantage of reduced chattering. The nonlinear model of Pakistan Research Reactor-1 has been used for higherorder sliding-mode controller design and performance evaluation. The reactor core is simulated based on point kinetics equations and one delayed neutron groups. The model assumes feedback from lumped fuel and coolant temperatures. The effect of xenon concentration is also considered. The employed method is easy to implement in practical applications, and the second-order sliding-mode control exhibits the desired dynamic properties during the entire output-tracking process. Simulation results are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed controller in terms of performance, robustness, and stability.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.52 no.11
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• pp.2522-2534
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• 2020

It is well known that the model of nuclear reactors features natural nonlinearity, and variable parameters during power tracking operation. In this paper, a disturbance observer-based adaptive sliding mode control (DOB-ASMC) strategy is proposed for power tracking of the pressurized-water reactor (PWR) in the presence of lumped disturbances. The nuclear reactor model is firstly established based on point-reactor kinetics equations with six delayed neutron groups. Then, a new sliding mode disturbance observer is designed to estimate the lumped disturbance, and its stability is discussed. On the basis of the developed DOB, an adaptive sliding mode control scheme is proposed, which is a combination of backstepping technique and integral sliding mode control approach. In addition, an adaptive law is introduced to enhance the robustness of a PWR with disturbances. The asymptotic stability of the overall control system is verified by Lyapunov stability theory. Simulation results are provided to demonstrate that the proposed DOB-ASMC strategy has better power tracking performance than conventional sliding mode controller and PID control method as well as conventional backstepping controller.

• Proceedings of the Korean Nuclear Society Conference
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• 1997.10a
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• pp.85-90
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• 1997

Previous our numerical results in computing point kinetics equations show a possibility in developing approximations to estimate sensitivity responses of nuclear reactor We recalculate sensitivity responses by maintaining the corrections with first order of sensitivity parameter. We present a method for computing sensitivity responses of nuclear reactor based on an approximation derived from point kinetics equations. Exploiting this approximation, we found that the first order approximation works to estimate variations in the time to reach peak power because of their linear dependence on a sensitivity parameter, and that there are errors in estimating the peak power in the first order approximation for larger sensitivity parameters. To confirm legitimacy of our approximation, these approximate results are compared with exact results obtained from our previous numerical study.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.153-161
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• 1981

The dynamic behavior of the Ko-ri Unit 1 nuclear reactor following some credible and postulated accidents has been analyzed to a certain extent by means of neutronics and temperature equations formulated in terms of point reactor model. In general, the result of numerical calculation is harnessed to be incorporated in more elaborate models so as to predict transient behavior in a reliable mode as a part of accident analysis. It is shown in the case of power response upon an uncontrolled withdrawal of rod cluster control assembly at hot full power that the point reactor kinetics model proves to be good enough to reproduce the generic features described in the final safety analysis report of the Ko-ri Unit 1.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society for Energy Engineering kosee Conference
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• 1994.05a
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• pp.130-137
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• 1994

As a part of developing engineering simulator for CANDU 6 nuclear power plants, present paper gives the tentative simulation results of reactor and turbine power transients including reactor-follow-turbine operation. One point kinetics equations are used for neutron dynamics, iodine and xenon loads. To calculate time-dependent high and low pressure turbine powers and grid frequency deviation, simple first order differential equations are used. In addition, control logics (reactor regulating system, demand power routine, and unit power regulator) used in the plant's process computers have been referenced.

• Proceedings of the Korean Nuclear Society Conference
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• 1996.11a
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• pp.79-84
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• 1996

The robust controller for the nuclear reactor power control system is designed. The reactor model is set up by use of the point kinetics equations and the singly lumped energy balance equations. Since the model is different from the actual plant, the controller which makes the system robust is necessary. The perturbation of the actual plant is investigated with respect to several possible sources of uncertainty. Then the overall system is configured into the two port model and the $H_{\infty}$ controller is designed. The loop shaping and the permissible control rod speed are considered as the design constraints. The designed $H_{\infty}$ controller provides the sufficient margins for the robustness, and the system output as well as the control input satisfy their relevant requirements.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.280-290
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• 1997

The robust controller for the nuclear reactor power control system is designed. The nuclear reactor is modeled by use of the point kinetics equations and the singly lumped energy balance equations, Since the model is not exact, the controller which can make the actual system robust is necessary. The perturbed plant is investigated by employing the uncertainties of the initial power level and the physical properties, and by introducing the delay into the modeled plant The overall system is configured into the two port model and the H$\infty$ controller is designed. In designing the H$\infty$ controller, two factors of the loop shaping and the permissible magnitude of control input are taken into account The designed controller provides the sufficient margins for the robustness, and the transients of the system output power and the control input satisfy their associated requirement.