Advances in the ACR-1000® Reactor Regulating System and Reactor Control

Abstract

Advances in the control of the ACR-1000 reactor are presented. The ACR-1000 Reactor Regulating System’s (RRS) capability to maintain reactor power at its set point, counteract zonal power deviations, initiate setback as required, and effectively control operational maneuvers including power load-cycling is demonstrated. Three fast core transients and a long Load Cycling transient are presented. For simulations of the fast transients a dynamic RRS Simulation Package (RRS_SP) was developed, where the core neutron kinetics calculations (*CERBERUS module of RFSP) were coupled to a thermal hydraulic code (CATHENA) at every time step. A quasi-static approach was used to demonstrate the RRS performance in the Load Cycling transient that covers five consecutive daily cycles followed by a 2-day weekend cycle.