Model validation and higher order sliding mode controller design for a research reactor

The paper pertains to model validation and novel higher order sliding mode controller design for a nuclear research reactor. Sliding mode controllers for nuclear reactors were reported before but higher order sliding mode controllers have added advantage of reduced chattering. As a first step of model development a simulation model of control rod drive mechanism (CRDM) has been developed using SIMULINK^®. This model has been validated with a lab based CRDM model, which is similar to Pakistan Research Reactor-1 (PARR-1) CRDM system. The nonlinear model of PARR-1 has been tuned and validated with experimental data. This model has been subsequently used for higher order sliding mode controller design and performance evaluation. Certain parameter values have also been recalculated to ensure model accuracy. Based on the validated model a robust nonlinear controller for controlling output power by manipulating control rod position has been developed and simulated. The new controller showed improved performance as compared to the classical PID controller.