Self-tuning control application to a nuclear power plant

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Abstract
The aim of this paper is to investigate the application possibilities of a self-tuning control method to a pressurized-water reactor (PWR) nuclear power plant. A self-tuning control algorithm which incorporates pole assignment into the generalized minimum variance strategy with a particular form of cost function is employed. This algorithm enables closed-loop system stability characteristics to be readily specified and facilitates reference following. The control system design is based on a second-order linear model with unknown, time-varying parameters. To ensure that this low-order model describes the complex real dynamics well enough for control purposes, control parameters are updated on-line with a recursive estimation sequences of the extended least-squares method. Weighting polynomials are also adjusted on-line to keep closed-loop poles at the desired location and to satisfy the zero steady-state condition and disturbance rejection. The purpose of this control system is to hold the average coolant temperature in the reactor as near as possible to a desired but changing reference value in the load-following mode of the nuclear power plant. The position of the control rods is an appropriate control variable. Simulation results are very successful and show the possibilities of the adaptive control application to actual plants.

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