On-line adaptive robust control and model uncertainty validation for a nuclear power plant

An application of adaptive {dollar}Hsbinfty{dollar} control with model validation is presented. Adaptive {dollar}Hsbinfty{dollar} control guarantees the stability of the closed-loop system while model validation verifies the normal operation of the current controller. Three controllers are compared: a classical controller, a fixed {dollar}Hsbinfty{dollar} controller, and an adaptive {dollar}Hsbinfty{dollar} controller. The classical controller uses an embedded gain {dollar}Gsb{lcub}c{rcub}{dollar} to provide robustness. The fixed {dollar}Hsbinfty{dollar} controller requires a fixed performance specification, a fixed nominal plant model and a fixed uncertainty to provide robust performance. The adaptive {dollar}Hsbinfty{dollar} controller requires a fixed performance specification, a fixed nominal plant model and an on-line uncertainty to provide robust performance. The on-line uncertainty demonstrates a guaranteed bounded response and tracks time-varying parameters. The adaptive {dollar}Hsbinfty{dollar} controller designed for this work is the first to use an adaptive identifier to quantify in the {dollar}Hsbinfty{dollar} sense a time-varying uncertainty which is used to redesign, on-line, the {dollar}Hsbinfty{dollar} controller and thereby make the controller adaptive. In addition, the adaptive {dollar}Hsbinfty{dollar} controller is also the first controller to use an uncertainty identifier for on-line model validation.; The robustness and performance of the three controllers are tested on a nuclear reactor simulation at normal operating conditions by varying the control rod worth and the initial reactor power level. Model validation tests for abnormal operating conditions are performed by simulating a large control rod worth and a loss of rod control.; A comparison of the adaptive {dollar}Hsbinfty{dollar} controller to the classical and fixed {dollar}Hsbinfty{dollar} controllers quite clearly indicates the superior robustness of the adaptive {dollar}Hsbinfty{dollar} controller. The adaptive {dollar}Hsbinfty{dollar} controller shows the fastest settling time, the fastest rise time and the smallest peak overshoot. Model validation of the adaptive {dollar}Hsbinfty{dollar} controller detects faults due to large control rod worth and loss of rod control.