| Abstract: | A group of five plant inherent control tests was successfully conducted in November 1987 in the Experimental Breeder Reactor II. These tests demonstrated that the plant power of a metal-fueled reactor can be passively controlled over a large power range by slowly changing the primary flow and the reactor inlet temperature. These variables are, in turn, regulated by the primary pump speed, the secondary flow, and the turbine inlet pressure. In all tests, control rods were not used to regulate power. It was demonstrated that the plant power can be controlled with reasonable accuracy without using control rods when the reactivity feedback characteristics of the reactor are well understood and the plant controllers are adequately designed. |
