Statistically optimal filter for IBR-2 mean power estimation

The IBR-2 pulsed reactor is characterized by a wide spread of power pulse amplitudes with respect to their mean (basic) value. To ensure IBR-2 safe operation the emergency system shuts the reactor down in response to pulse power disorder (double increase or decrease of the power pulse amplitude from its basic value) and to mean power (the basic amplitude goes beyond set limits). The latter requires estimation of the current mean power. As a result of application of the method of statistically optimal regulation of the pulsed reactor [Popov, A.K., 1971. On statistically optimal regulation of pulse energy of the fast reactor. Atomnaya Energia 31(13), 269] for solution of the problem of filtration, a statistically optimal algorithm according to which the current value of the mean power is formed at filter output is obtained. It is shown, that the optimal algorithm is realized by the filter in the form of an inertial element and that most acceptable results are achieved when the time constant of the filter is larger than the pulse period by a factor of 3–7. The appendix gives a detailed description of the statistical optimization method as a method of independent interest.