Distributed optimal control in a nuclear reactor†

Abstract

Abstract The linear deterministic mathematical model of a nuclear reactor system, which can bo described by parabolic partial differential equations, and the problems associated with this model arc discussed in this paper. Also studied is the derivation of a maximum principle for this distributed nuclear reactor system and the problems associated with approximating this distributed system by discretization into a lumped system. Examples concerning the regulator and the servomechanism problems of a nuclear reactor system are presented. Notes †Communicated by the Author. Partially supported by the University of Evansville under the Faculty Research Grant. Presented at Fifth Asilomar Conference on Circuits and Systems, Monterey, California, November 8-10, 1971.