Adaptive automation of accelerated step start of engines in Autonomous power supply systems for own needs of nuclear power plants

Abstract

At nuclear power plants, there are particularly responsible consumers, whose accident-free operation generally affects the safety of nuclear power plants (NPPs). Some of these electric receivers operate in the normal technological cycle of power generation, while others that are particularly responsible are switched on when an emergency occurs. To ensure the reliability and safety of NPP operation in these operating modes, especially responsible consumers are started in Autonomous power supply schemes with a power source (diesel generator) of limited and comparable power. To ensure the success of the start-up of highly critical electric motors for their own needs, the NPP uses automatic step-start. The speed of a typical, standard automation algorithm is about 50–60 seconds. However, in particularly critical conditions, for example, for the power supply of mechanisms for cooling systems and accident localization, greater speed of this type of automation is required. With this requirement in mind, this article proposes and tests an adaptive algorithm for automatic accelerated step start-up (USP) of specially responsible electric motors for the NPP's own needs. The use of adaptive automatic can reduce the time of successful start-up of all engines, while excluding overloading of the diesel generator and over-regulation of the voltage in the Autonomous power supply scheme for the NPP's own needs.