The stability of boiling water reactors as a catastrophe phenomenon

I. Pázsit, V. Dykin, H. Konno, Tomasz Kozlowski

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

The stability of boiling water reactors (BWRs) is revisited in terms of catastrophe theory. The hypothesis is proposed that the stability parameter (decay ratio) of a complex, many-variable non-linear system might obey a cusp catastrophe. The incentive for this surmise comes from indications in real measurements that in certain cases the decay ratio appears to behave discontinuously and might show a hysteresis as a function of the control parameters reactor power and coolant flow. Such observations can be explained by a phenomenological catastrophe model suggested in this article. Since a cusp-type behaviour implies that the decay ratio is many-valued in a certain region of the power-flow map, a mechanism is suggested how a Hopf bifurcation with multiplicative noise can lead to such a behaviour.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationMathematics and Computations, Supercomputing in Nuclear Applications and Monte Carlo International Conference, M and C+SNA+MC 2015
PublisherAmerican Nuclear Society
Pages763-774
Number of pages12
ISBN (Electronic)9781510808041
StatePublished - 2015
EventMathematics and Computations, Supercomputing in Nuclear Applications and Monte Carlo International Conference, M and C+SNA+MC 2015 - Nashville, United States
Duration: Apr 19 2015Apr 23 2015

Publication series

NameMathematics and Computations, Supercomputing in Nuclear Applications and Monte Carlo International Conference, M and C+SNA+MC 2015
Volume1

Other

OtherMathematics and Computations, Supercomputing in Nuclear Applications and Monte Carlo International Conference, M and C+SNA+MC 2015
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityNashville
Period4/19/154/23/15

Keywords

  • BWR
  • Catastrophe theory
  • Stability

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Mathematics(all)
  • Nuclear and High Energy Physics

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