Nuclear power plant simulator for concept design and performance analysis

B. N.M. Mills, R. I. Latchford, V. Badalassi

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

This paper presents the simulator of a high level nuclear power plant modelled in Simulink/MATLAB. It borrows also elements from SimHydraulics. The model is based on an energy balance across the main components in both the primary and secondary loops, however it does not include the reactor core kinetics/burn up and heat transfer/decay heat calculations yet. Further the simulator is not aimed to safety analysis. The primary components (both high and low pressure turbines including moisture separator, condenser, steam generator, etc.) have all been modelled using correlations and vendors data. The secondary side in particular models the transition of states (evaporation, condensation) based on look up tables. The model was validated with available data from a commercial nuclear plant design (the Westinghouse AP1000) and from a small reactor design (S.I.R., Safe Integral Reactor). Comparative values demonstrate that the model supports a number of different plant configurations and it can be successfully utilised in nuclear reactor preliminary design. Furthermore, it can be used to identify the consequences of various design choices. Future developments will include the reactor core physics using a 6-group delayed neutrons model as well as more detailed turbine and other components

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication2012 20th International Conference on Nuclear Engineering and the ASME 2012 Power Conference, ICONE 2012-POWER 2012
PublisherAmerican Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
Pages121-128
Number of pages8
ISBN (Print)9780791844953
DOIs
StatePublished - 2012
Externally publishedYes

Publication series

NameInternational Conference on Nuclear Engineering, Proceedings, ICONE
Volume1

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