Hybrid simulation and digital controller design for a nuclear propulsion plant

The hybrid simulation and a prototype digital controller for closed loop control of a marine nuclear propulsion plant are described in this paper. The high order hybrid simulation is based on a representative mathematical model of the nuclear steam supply system. The control strategies developed for the coordinated control of the reactor, the steam generators, the feedwater systems and the propulsion turbines of the plant are derived from a simplified discrete model of the high order simulation. The control strategies are implemented on a digital minicomputer that serves as the prototype controller, and is interfaced with the hybrid computing facility. Results for several normal and abnormal maneuvering rates are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the prototype digital controller.