Dynamic Modeling and Control of Nuclear Reactors Coupled to Closed-Loop Brayton Cycle Systems using SIMULINK{sup TM}

• Published in: AIP conference proceedings 2005-02, Vol.746 (1)
• Main Authors: Wright, Steven A., Sanchez, Travis
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: ALTERNATORS; BRAYTON CYCLE; COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION; ELECTRIC HEATING; ENGINEERING; FLOW MODELS; GAS COOLED REACTORS; HEAT EXCHANGERS; HEAT PIPES; LIQUID METAL COOLED REACTORS; NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems; POWER GENERATION; REACTOR CONTROL SYSTEMS; STIRLING ENGINES; TURBINES
• ISSN: 0094-243X; 1551-7616
• DOI: 10.1063/1.1867224

The operation of space reactors for both in-space and planetary operations will require unprecedented levels of autonomy and control. Development of these autonomous control systems will require dynamic system models, effective control methodologies, and autonomous control logic. This paper briefly describes the results of reactor, power-conversion, and control models that are implemented in SIMULINK{sup TM} (Simulink, 2004). SIMULINK{sup TM} is a development environment packaged with MatLab{sup TM} (MatLab, 2004) that allows the creation of dynamic state flow models. Simulation modules for liquid metal, gas cooled reactors, and electrically heated systems have been developed, as have modules for dynamic power-conversion components such as, ducting, heat exchangers, turbines, compressors, permanent magnet alternators, and load resistors. Various control modules for the reactor and the power-conversion shaft speed have also been developed and simulated. The modules are compiled into libraries and can be easily connected in different ways to explore the operational space of a number of potential reactor, power-conversion system configurations, and control approaches. The modularity and variability of these SIMULINK{sup TM} models provides a way to simulate a variety of complete power generation systems. To date, both Liquid Metal Reactors (LMR), Gas Cooled Reactors (GCR), and electric heaters that are coupled to gas-dynamics systems and thermoelectric systems have been simulated and are used to understand the behavior of these systems. Current efforts are focused on improving the fidelity of the existing SIMULINK{sup TM} modules, extending them to include isotopic heaters, heat pipes, Stirling engines, and on developing state flow logic to provide intelligent autonomy. The simulation code is called RPC-SIM (Reactor Power and Control-Simulator)