International Journal of Engineering and Technology

This paper describes a method to develop a vectorized nonlinear quadrant model and controller design to achieve spatial stability of Advanced Heavy Water Reactor (AHWR) core. The AHWR is a 920MWth, heavy water moderated, boiling light water cooled natural circulation reactor. Reactor core of AHWR is fictitiously divided into 17 non-overlapping nodes to ensure spatial stability. The non-linear coupled core neutronics - thermal hydraulics model of AHWR core is represented by 90 first order differential equations. The total reactor power and 17 nodal powers are controlled by manipulating four voltage signals to the Regulating Rods (RRs). It is necessary to design an effective controller to maintain the total power of the reactor while the xenon induced oscillations are being controlled. Thus it is essential to control nodal powers along with total power. Genetic algorithm is incorporated in PID controller design to optimize reactor power.