Fractional Order Modeling of PWR Pressurizer Dynamics and Fractional Order Nonlinear H∞ Controllers Design in LabVIEW

Abstract

The novel fractional order intelligent transient dynamics and advanced fractional order nonlinear robust control synthesis scheme of the Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) pressurizer are addressed in this research work. The Graphical User Interface (GUI) is designed for closed-loop model-based PWR pressurizer dynamical studies in LabVIEW. Based on the demand for power, the reactor power and turbine power are predicted using a fractional order backpropagation algorithm in an open loop configuration. Using turbine power and heater power as input variables, pressurizer level, pressurizer pressure and coolant average temperature as output variables, the open loop multi-input multi-output (MIMO) dynamic model of pressurizer is estimated using fractional order artificial intelligence in LabVIEW. Four fractional order robust nonlinear H∞ sub-controllers are designed for charging flow, spray flow, proportional heaters power and backup heaters power. All the dynamic controller models are in fractional order nonlinear H∞ framework and are designed in LabVIEW. The performance of the proposed design work is evaluated in closed loop configuration at 100 %, 75 % and 15 % in steady state conditions. Dynamic transient analysis is performed from 100% to 90% power reduction scenario and found satisfactory and within design limits and robust bounds.