Integrating CATHENA with CANDU Plant Controllers

Abstract

This paper describes how CATHENA, a two-fluid thermalhydraulic computer code, may be coupled with other codes to allow integrated simulations. Specifically, the integration of the LEPCON code with CATHENA is presented. LEPCON simulates the major control functions of the Point Lepreau CANDU-600 reactor. An interface was designed to exchange information between CATHENA and the LEPCON controllers. CATHENA performs the thermalhydraulic calcu- lations for the reactor system while control of the thermalhydraulic cir- cuits is specified by the control routines. Pressures, temperatures and flows calculated by CATHENA are input to the control routines. The control routines use this information to calculate parameters such as the position of the control valves, reactivity insertion, and heat input to the pressurizer. This information is then returned to CATHENA. Examples of integrated CATHENA/LEPCON calculations are given and compared with reference solutions.