Proportional Control and Pressurizer Parameter Study of a Pressure Tube Reactor

An investigation of the transient behavior of a pressure tube reactor indicated a definite need for external control to handle even normal load perturbations. Three proportional controllers were developed which were effective in containing the transients of the system for changes in load. A comparison of the three controllers indicated little preference between them with regard to variations in reactor power, primary loop temperature or system pressure. The final selection of a controller was thus an economic consideration. The result of the parameter study of the pressurizer indicated that a pressurizer size of 30 cubic feet, ¿ of the total volume of the primary coolant, was adequate for the containment of the pressure and volume surge transients.