Automatic control characteristics of thermal neutron reactors

The influence of the phenomenon of ¿delayed¿ neutrons on the problem of automatically controlling the power level of a thermal nuclear reactor is described. The frequency-response characteristic of a reactor is obtained theoretically and shown to be confirmed experimentally; from it is derived an empirical transfer function. It shown that the observed response of the closed-sequence system controlling reactor power, following step changes in the desired power level, is in good agreement with the response calculated from this transfer function. Some practical uses of the analysis are indicated.