APPLICATION OF FUZZY-LOGIC CONTROLLER TO LOAD-FOLLOW OPERATIONS IN PRESSURIZED-WATER REACTORS

The fuzzy logic controller was developed to control load-follow operat ions in pressurized water reactors. The reactor core characteristics c hange according to different fuel cycles or core exposures, thus makin g a nonlinear time-varying control problem. This proposed method, howe ver, does not require a mathematical model to design the controller, a nd so avoids redesigning or tuning controller gain for various cores. Clearly. this method is very suitable for reactor load-following opera tion control. The control system has two subsystems: one is to track t he desired power, and the other is to keep axial offset close to the t arget value. Both controllers use fuzzy logic: one is the conventional type, and the other uses fuzzy logic to tune the parameters of the co ntroller so the controller can correspond to various core characterist ics. Simulation results show that the control system performs well for different cores, and so this system is useful for load-follow operati on.