Title: Load following approach for a VVER nuclear power plant using generic model control

Authors: Khaled Rady; Mahmoud Mohamed El-Metwally; Ahmed Abouelsoud; Mahmoud Farrag; Said Kotb

Addresses: Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation, Palestine St., New Maadi, Cairo, Egypt ' Cairo University, 1 Gamaa Street, Giza, Egypt ' Cairo University, 1 Gamaa Street, Giza, Egypt ' Cairo University, 1 Gamaa Street, Giza, Egypt ' Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority, Ahmad Al Zomor Street, Nasr City, Cairo, Egypt

Abstract: Possible application of generic nonlinear model control (GMC) for Dabaa pressurised water reactor (PWR) type nuclear power plant is studied for the load following operations. A self-adapting controller based on a generic minimal variance strategy is utilised. The controller design is modelled as a linear second-order model with unspecified time-varying parameters. Configuration parameters are modified online using an extended least square approach with a recursive prediction sequence; the controller is implemented on an optimised model from the literature. The cooling temperature is kept as close as possible to the desired value in the load following operating mode. The position of the control rod is selected as the control variable. The proposed controller was benchmarked against the conventional rod speed programme controller (CRSP). The outcomes are promising and indicate the opportunity to implement the GMC approach for an actual nuclear power plant.

Keywords: generic nonlinear model control; GMC; nuclear power plant; robust controller.

DOI: 10.1504/IJAAC.2022.122619

International Journal of Automation and Control, 2022 Vol.16 No.3/4, pp.489 - 502

Received: 18 Aug 2020
Accepted: 20 Mar 2021
Published online: 04 May 2022 *

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