Research on Operational Characteristics and Core Simulation of the Third-Generation Nuclear Reactor AP1000

Abstract

In the future, the third generation of nuclear power reactor AP1000 may become the main type in China. The results of analyzing the design idea and the power operation characteristics of AP1000 show that AP1000 nuclear generating unit possesses satisfied load regulation characteristics, so it can be participated in peak load regulation of power grid. On the basis of mastering physical characteristics of core reactivity of AP1000 and its coupling features with neutron-flux, a core simulation model is established to research the interaction between state variables and control variables of the core under small disturbance inside the core or large disturbance outside the core. Simulation results show that the reactivity caused by state variables mainly copes with the post-disturbance stable operation of the core, and the reactivity caused by control variables ensures the core power enable to reach a new equilibrium point along with the trajectory variation of the disturbance.