Title: Singular system analysis of the Local Power Range Monitor (LPRM) readings of a Boiling Water Reactor (BWR) in an unstable event

Authors: Damian Ginestar Peiro, Gumersindo Verdu, Rafael Miro

Addresses: Departamento de Matematica Aplicada, Universidad Politecnica de Valencia, Camino de Vera, 14. 46022 Valencia, Spain. ' Departamento de Ingenieria Quimica y Nuclear, Universidad Politecnica de Valencia, Camino de Vera, 14. 46022 Valencia, Spain. ' Departamento de Ingenieria Quimica y Nuclear, Universidad Politecnica de Valencia, Camino de Vera, 14. 46022 Valencia, Spain

Abstract: Singular system analysis is a successful technique to separate oscillating components from a given signal. A methodology is proposed to apply this technique to the signals obtained from the LPRMs of a boiling water reactor core and extract the contributions of the in-phase oscillation and the out-of-phase oscillations from the LPRM readings during an unstable event. This methodology has been validated with synthetic signals and simulations of in-phase and out-of-phase oscillations of the Leibstadt reactor. Finally, one case of Ringhals I Stability Benchmark has been analysed.

Keywords: BWR instabilities; singular system analysis; LPRM signals; sinusoidal signals; boiling water reactors; nuclear reactors; nuclear energy; nuclear power; nuclear technology; nuclear science; local power range monitor; in-phase oscillation; out-of-phase oscillations; simulation; neutronic power signals.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNEST.2006.010719

International Journal of Nuclear Energy Science and Technology, 2006 Vol.2 No.3, pp.253 - 265

Published online: 20 Aug 2006 *

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