DAVID D LANNING
Engineering in Hampstead, NH
License number
Massachusetts 16768
Issued Date
Jul 21, 1961
Expiration Date
Jun 30, 1998
Type
Nuclear Engineer
Address
Address
Hampstead, NH 03841
Professional information
Apparatus And Method For Closed-Loop Control Of Reactor Power
US Patent:
4710341, Dec 1, 1987
Filed:
Sep 12, 1986
Appl. No.:
6/907048
Inventors:
John A. Bernard - Needham Heights MA
Allan F. Henry - Boston MA
David D. Lanning - Hampstead NH
Kwan S. Kwok - Newtonville MA
Allan F. Henry - Boston MA
David D. Lanning - Hampstead NH
Kwan S. Kwok - Newtonville MA
Assignee:
Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Cambridge MA
International Classification:
G21C 736
US Classification:
376216
Abstract:
Closed-loop controller for altering the power level of nuclear reactors in a safe manner and without overshoot. Apparatus is provided for moving a control element such as a control rod or for adjusting the concentration of a soluble neutron absorber (chemical shim) for altering the nuclear reactor power level. A computer computes at short time intervals the two functions [. rho. (t)-. vertline. rho. sub. c. vertline. /. lambda. sub. e '(t)]/. vertline. rho. sub. c. vertline. and. tau. (t)ln(P. sub. F /P(t)). The direction of motion of the control element is altered when these two functions become equal thereby resulting in the attainment of a new power level without overshoot. In a preferred embodiment, these two functions are computed at intervals of approximately one second.