Title: Ratio control with logarithmic logics in a new P&P control algorithm for a true fuel-efficient reactor

Authors: Shantanu Das, Bibhuranjan Basudeb Biswas

Addresses: Reactor Control Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai, 400085, India ' Reactor Control Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai, 400085, India

Abstract: The concept of expending minimum control energy while stabilising or manoeuvring reactor power for a nuclear reactor is the key for a fuel-efficient reactor control. This concept results from treating the reactor close to its natural characteristics by a new Power and Period (P&P) control scheme. This is proven by spending only the required rate of reactivity (not more) to govern the power by setting together a power error and period error, thus through the characteristic reactor equation (inverse-hour rule), defining the absolute step reactivity required at each power points. However, the use of logarithmic logic, in the new P&P method does add another concept of ratio control, where the effective power error is generated by ratio of demanded power exponential to the observed power exponential curves. This method indeed thus compares the shape of the exponential curve demanded with the observed trajectory, thus close to physics.

Keywords: ratio control; logarithmic logics; Power and Period; P&P; exponent shape governor; stable roots; shaped-normalised reactor period function; fuel efficiency; reactor control; reactor P-T plane; log-rate hyperbole; nuclear reactors; nuclear power; nuclear energy.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNEST.2007.012437

International Journal of Nuclear Energy Science and Technology, 2007 Vol.3 No.1, pp.1 - 18

Published online: 13 Feb 2007 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article