Integrated physics-based modeling reveals a thermodynamic gap in small modular reactor load following
基于物理的集成建模揭示小型模块化反应堆负荷跟踪中的热力学差距
Ali Mahboub Rad, Roshni Anna Jacob, Bikash Poudel, Mayir Mamtimin, Jie Zhang
AI总结 针对SMR负荷跟踪能力评估中热力学耦合被忽视的问题,提出混合动态框架,耦合NuScale反应堆主回路与基于物理的二次蒸汽循环,发现三回路控制策略可稳定运行,而传统线性模型会低估瞬态行为。
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小型模块化反应堆(SMR)越来越多地被考虑用于灵活发电;然而,许多动态研究仍然忽略了主回路和二次回路之间的热力学耦合,而这对于准确评估负荷跟踪能力至关重要。在本研究中,我们开发了一个混合动态框架,将NuScale一体化压水堆的基于方程的模型(包括反应堆、主回路和移动边界螺旋管直流蒸汽发生器)与基于物理的二次蒸汽循环(包括阀门、汽轮机、冷凝器和给水泵)耦合。该方法在耦合系统中强制执行质量和能量守恒,同时保持跨域边界的物理一致流动相互作用。集成模型再现了标称设计点条件,并用于分析五种控制策略下的5%阶跃负荷拒斥,包括阀门、给水泵和控制棒的分散三回路控制架构。结果表明,部分控制策略不足以实现高效安全运行,而三个执行器的同时作用可稳定蒸汽压力,限制主回路中的不良热偏移,并在负荷跟踪操作期间保持可接受的蒸汽发生器运行裕度。与传统的线性蒸汽循环表示相比,耦合框架捕捉了动态背压和可变汽轮机焓降(这些在传统模型中通常被忽略),导致对瞬态行为和所需蒸汽流量的不同预测。这些发现表明,需要热力学耦合的、基于物理的蒸汽循环模型来更准确地评估SMR在实际负荷跟踪条件下的运行灵活性、效率和安全裕度。
Small modular reactors (SMRs) are increasingly considered for flexible power generation; however, many dynamic studies still neglect the thermodynamic coupling between the primary and secondary loops that is essential for accurate assessment of load-following capability. In this study, we develop a hybrid dynamic framework that couples an equation-based model of the NuScale integral pressurized water reactor, including the reactor, primary loop, and moving-boundary helical-coil once-through steam generator, with a physics-based secondary steam cycle comprising the valve, turbine, condenser, and feedwater pump. This approach enforces mass and energy conservation across the coupled system while preserving physically consistent flow interactions across the domain boundary. The integrated model reproduces nominal design-point conditions and is used to analyze a 5% step load rejection under five control strategies, including a decentralized three-loop control architecture for the valve, feedwater pump, and control rods. The results show that partial control strategies are insufficient for efficient and safe operation, whereas simultaneous action of all three actuators stabilizes steam pressure, limits adverse thermal excursions in the primary loop and maintains acceptable steam generator operating margins during load-following maneuvers. Compared with a conventional linear steam-cycle representation, the coupled framework captures dynamic back-pressure and variable turbine enthalpy drop that are otherwise neglected, leading to different predictions of transient behavior and required steam flow. These findings show that thermodynamically coupled, physics-based steam-cycle models are needed for more accurate assessment of the operational flexibility, efficiency and safety margins of SMRs under realistic load-following conditions.