Computer-aided core surveillance and control

The purpose of the core surveillance and control system described is to provide the operator with relevant information on the actual core state, to predict core behaviour in transient situations, to determine strategies for control of both power and power distribution, and to realize these strategies in an on-line control mode. Thus, the safety of the plant is improved since undesired core conditions can be prevented more easily. Co-operation of the OECD Halden Reactor Project and the Gesellschaft fuer Reaktorsicherheit has led to the development of core surveillance systems. An outline of the main tasks of a core surveillance system is given, followed by a description of the modules developed, namely core simulators in the core follow mode and predictive mode, strategy generators, databases and interactive operator communication. (author)