Analysis and Recommendations on Multi-Module Control Methods for Small Modular Reactors

The push to develop and deploy new advanced reactor concepts has been gaining significant impetus over the recent decade, which has been fueled by both an inherent desire to improve older technologies, but also in part as countries seek to accelerate their descension away from a dependence on fossil fuels. This has resulted in the emergence of many different Small Modular Reactor (SMR) concepts. SMRs have desirable advantages compared to traditional large-scale reactors, this includes prospects for faster reactor deployment, various multi-modular configurations, usage in remote & marine applications, and to act as a stabilizing source for grids dependent on intermittent energy sources. These concepts involve new complex control dynamics not previously encountered in traditional reactor controllers, which has brought about novel control approaches, and methods to allow for efficient operation in both stable and unstable electrical grids. This paper is a comprehensive survey on the various multi-module control methods that have been published in the open literature over the past years, with a special focus on SMRs and load-following applications. It is expected that this paper will provide theoretical guidance while formulating the control strategies and schemes for multi-module SMRs.