Fuzzy-logic control applications to the belgian reactor 1 (BR1)

Abstract

Fuzzy-logic control (FLC) applications in nuclear industry present a tremendous challenge. The main reason for this is the public awareness of the risks of nuclear industry and the very strict safety regulations in force for nuclear power plants. The very same regulations prevent a researcher from quickly introducing novel fuzzy-logic methods into this field.  On the other hand, the application of FLC  has, despite the ominous sound of the word "fuzzy" to nuclear engineers, a number of very desirable advantages over classical methods, e.g., its robustness and the capability to include human experience into the controller.
In this paper  we report an on-going R&D project for controlling the power level of the Belgian Reactor 1 (BR1) at the Belgian  Nuclear Research Centre (SCK·CEN). The project started in 1995 and aims to investigate the added value of FLC for nuclear reactors. We first review some relevant literature on FLC in nuclear reactors, then present the state-of-the-art of the BR1 project. After experimenting FLC under off-line test cases at the BR1 reactor, we now foresee a new development for a closed-loop FLC as an on-line operation of the BR1 reactor. Finally, we present the new development for the closed-loop FLC at BR1 with an understanding of the safety requirements for this real FLC application in nuclear reactors.