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DOE OSTI · 1819123

Summary of GNU Octave Lady Godiva Simulator

Kimpland, Robert Herbert·Determan, John C.·Kim, Seung Jun·Wass, Alexander Joseph
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Abstract

A pseudo real-time interactive reactor simulator for the Lady Godiva reactor has been developed using the GNU Octave software package. The simulator tracks the time-dependent power and fuel temperature behavior of the Lady Godiva reactor during sub-prompt critical transients. Users interact with the simulator by controlling reactivity input. This input occurs through users repositioning a control rod as desired during simulator operation. Various reactor parameters are displayed graphically in near “real time,” facilitating user assessment and feedback input. The reactor model consists of a lumped-fuel core, a single control rod, and a simple heat transfer mechanism that allows heat to be rejected from the core. The goal of the simulator is to demonstrate in real-time the system response to reactivity perturbations, the effect of reactivity feedback, and the effect of temperature-dependent equilibrium conditions. The dynamic behavior of the reactor is primarily driven by the relative characteristic time-constants between the delayed neutrons and the overall heat transfer parameter. The simulator will allow users to gain experience performing standard reactor operations, such as establishing steady-state at different fuel temperatures and making power level changes

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Kimpland, Robert Herbert, Determan, John C., Kim, Seung Jun, Wass, Alexander Joseph. 2021-09-01. Summary of GNU Octave Lady Godiva Simulator. https://doi.org/10.2172/1819123

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