Abstract:
A control system for controlling the relative position of a plurality of control rods within a nuclear reactor, thus controlling the energy output of the nuclear reactor. The control system includes a single rod control subsystem for controlling the motion of the individual rods within the nuclear material and a group control subsystem for controlling a plurality of rods of a group. The system includes a circuit for precluding any single rods or group of rods from being actuated in a direction opposite to that commanded to achieve synchronism of that particular rod. Thus, the rods moving from a first position to a second position, a reference position is established which is the average of the position of all the rods and the only rods which will move to position 2 will be those which deviate further from position 2 than the reference level. The system also includes a fault detection system.