Unified non-linear control design for load following operations in a two-zone model of a large PWR core

Abstract This study presents a novel method for improving power control effectiveness during load-following operations in large-pressurized water reactors (PWRs). The suggested approach builds on the author's earlier research by creating a single controller based on Non-linear Dynamic Inversion (NDI). The former method, deemed inefficient, used two independent controllers for distinct zones within the reactor core. The new proposed controller under this study, on the other hand, includes measurable characteristics in the feedback loop, making it a more practical approach. A genetic algorithm was used to maximize the controller's gain. The outcomes show that the newly suggested NDI-based controller outperforms its forerunners. Thus, applying this controller to actual large PWR reactors for load-following operations can advance reactor power control technology, enhancing nuclear power plants' safety and effectiveness.