Methodologies for optimizing ROP detector layout for CANDU® reactors

Improving Regional Overpower Protection Trip Set Point via Channel Optimization

“…This new algorithm utilizes the simulated annealing technique as its optimization engine. Comprehensive descriptions of the detector layout optimization using the DETPLASA algorithm as well as using the earlier tool called DLO 7 can be found in [4].…”

“…The first one is related to the safety aspect of the operation. It is desirable that there are multiple sets of detectors 4 distributed throughout the core which continuously monitor the power changes in the core. The second reason is related to the economic aspect of the operation.…”

“…The relation between these two quantities can be expressed by the following inequality or, where TSP is the trip set point, Φ is the detector reading, (1) (2) 3 It should be noted that the TSP quoted corresponds to the lowest TSP value obtained after evaluating all core configurations considered in the analysis (these various core configurations are called Flux Shapes -see Section 3). 4 Each of these sets is placed into a unique safety channel.…”

“…Recently, the DETPLASA algorithm has been developed to perform the optimization of the ROP detector placement [4]. The DETPLASA algorithm utilizes the simulated annealing (SA) stochastic optimization algorithm [5] to find a quasi optimal solution to the problem.…”