diff --git a/Zettelkasten/Permanent Notes/thesis-ideas.md b/Zettelkasten/Permanent Notes/thesis-ideas.md index 652940cc8..8d33fec52 100644 --- a/Zettelkasten/Permanent Notes/thesis-ideas.md +++ b/Zettelkasten/Permanent Notes/thesis-ideas.md @@ -323,45 +323,50 @@ ___________________________________________________________ ### Goals: -The goal of this research is to create an adaptive controller -that can adjust to system dynamics changes over time to maintain -an optimal control, while using formal methods to provide strong -safety guarantees about the malleable control law. +The goal of this research is to create an adaptive +controller for a reactor control system that can adjust to +system dynamics changes from component degredation or +post-maintenance effects to maintain an optimal control, +while using formal methods to provide strong safety +guarantees that all adaptations remain within verified +safety limits. ### Outcomes: For this research to be successful, I will accomplish the following: -- Create a simulation suite for the Small Modular Advanced High -Temperature Reactor (SmAHTR) to simulate component degradation -such as heat exchanger blockages and fuel concentration burn-up.* +1. Create a simulation suite for the Small Modular Advanced + High Temperature Reactor (SmAHTR) to simulate component +degradation such as heat exchanger fouling or chemistry +changes following maintenance. -- Create an adaptive control rod controller to maximize load following -precision for a simulated power grid demand. +2. Create a parameter adaptive control rod controller to maximize + load following precision for a simulated power grid +demand. -- Use contract based verification at runtime to ensure that -learned parameters for the adaptive controller remain within -safety specification limits - -*Is this actually even a problem for SmAHTR? Figuring the fuel is -suspended in the salt I'd assume chemistry is pretty strictly -controlled. I'm sure I can find other examples. +3. Use contract based verification at runtime to ensure that + learned parameters for the adaptive controller remain +within safety specification limits. ### Impact: -Certain reactor control systems are already automatic systems, -such as constant temperature or pressure controls for operating -at steady state. These simple controllers are able to follow load -changes from the power grid on their own, but over will lose -efficiency as the underlying plant mechanics become less -efficient, or maintenance is performed and components are -refreshed. For nuclear power contexts, fine control is ideal to -maximize profits and to minimize energy wasteage. This is not an -easy problem to solve, however, as the dynamics of the underlying -plant are constantly changing. Adaptive control can help address -this issue, but learnable controllers must come with guarantees -of safety in order to be attractive to the nuclear industry. +Many reactor control systems already automate steady-state +operation and basic load-following, but their performance +degrades over time as plant equipment wears or is replaced. +Without retuning, controllers may become less efficient, +leading to suboptimal thermal efficiency, reduced grid +responsiveness, and unnecessary operational margins that can +lead to unnecessary shutdowns. Adaptive control can address +these challenges by continuously tuning control parameters +to match the evolving plant dynamics. However, without +provable safety guarantees, such adaptation is unlikely to +be accepted in high-assurance domains without proof of +controller safety. By embedding formal, contract-based +verification into the adaptation process, this work will +enable the use of responsive and efficient control +strategies that maintain regulatory compliance while +improving plant performance and availability. ### Related Papers: