Parameter estimation during a transient – application to BWR stability

Abstract The estimation of system parameters is of obvious practical interest. During transient operation, these parameters are expected to change, whereby the system is rendered time-varying and classical signal processing techniques are not applicable. A novel methodology is proposed here, which combines wavelet multi-resolution analysis and selective wavelet coefficient removal with classical signal processing techniques in order to provide short-term estimates of the system parameters of interest. The use of highly overlapping time-windows further monitors the gradual changes in system parameter values. The potential of the proposed methodology is demonstrated with numerical experiments for the problem of stability evaluation of boiling water reactors during a transient.