Modeling and simulation of control system response to temperature disturbances in a coupled heat exchangers-AHTR system

An effective control strategy is essential for maintaining optimum operational efficiency of the Advanced High Temperature Reactor (AHTR)-intermediate heat exchanger (IHX)-secondary heat exchanger (SHX) system for power conversion or process heat applications. A control system design is presented in this paper for the control of the coupled intermediate and secondary heat exchangers. The cold side outlet temperature of the SHX (Tco) and the hot side outlet temperature of the IHX (Tho2) were identified as the controlled variables that were maintained at their set points by manipulating the flow rates of heat exchange media. Transfer functions describing the relationships between the controlled variables and the manipulated and load variables were developed and the system response to various temperature disturbances was simulated using a custom-developed MATLAB program. It was found that a step disturbance of ±10 °C in the process loop changed the thermal duty by ±650 kW, equal to 6.5% of the initial duty. Similar disturbances in the primary loop had a higher impact on the system. The control system design included a provision for the switching of manipulated variables to limit the adjustment in the magnitudes of the primary manipulated variables. Simulation results indicate that the controlled variables are maintained successfully at their desired points by the control system.