Reactor shutdown trip algorithm
AssigneeAtomic Energy of Canada Limited
InventorMajid Borairi
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A controller for producing a nuclear reactor shutdown system trip signal in response to at least one detector signal. The controller includes a signal conditioning module receiving the at least one detector signal and outputting a measured flux signal. A rate module generates a rate signal from the measured flux signal. A comparator circuit compares the rate signal to a trip setpoint and generates a first trip signal.
Claims21
A method of controlling a nuclear reactor shutdown system, the method comprising:
- detecting a parameter related to a fission rate within a core of the reactor with a sensor, the sensor providing an output signal corresponding to the fission rate;
- determining a measured flux signal from the output signal with a signal processing device, the measured flux signal corresponding to a percentage of a power of the reactor;
- calculating a first derivative of the measured flux signal with a rate module, the rate module outputting a rate signal related to a percentage of reactor power per unit of time;
- and comparing the rate signal to a rate signal setpoint with a comparator module, the comparator module generating a trip signal if the rate signal is greater than the rate signal setpoint.
A shutdown system for a nuclear reactor having a reactor core, the system comprising:
- a sensor associated with the reactor core and operable to detect a parameter related to a fission rate within the core and generate an output signal related to the fission rate;
- a signal conditioning module operable to generate a measured flux signal based on the output signal, the measured flux signal corresponding to a percentage of a power of the nuclear reactor;
- a shutdown system trip controller including
- a rate module operable to generate a rate signal from the measured flux signal, and
- a comparator module operable to compare the rate signal to a trip setpoint and generate a trip signal if the rate signal is greater than the trip setpoint;
- and
- a shutdown apparatus operable to absorb neutrons within the reactor core upon receipt of the trip signal.
A controller for producing a nuclear reactor shutdown system trip signal in response to at least one sensor signal, the controller comprising:
- a signal conditioning module operable to receive the at least one detector signal and output a measured flux signal;
- a rate module operable to generate a rate signal from the measured flux signal;
- and
- a comparator module operable to compare the rate signal to a trip setpoint and generate a first trip signal if the rate signal is greater than the trip setpoint.
21-60. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.