Parameter sensitivity study in the dynamic simulation of a sodium cooled breeder reactor power plant

The time domain sensitivity measure, peak sensitivity, was employed in studying the dynamics of a Clinch River Breeder Reactor Power Plant (CRBRP) digital simulator. With its use the most ''safety sensitive'' parameters in the plant model were identified for particular anticipated transients. Examples of such parameters include the Doppler feedback coefficient, fraction of power generated in the core, and the two phase flow friction multiplier. A method of putting first order bounds on a particular power plant transient due to parameter estimate error is also presented. This information is valuable since the CRBRP simulator was constructed with the intent of studying the safety of the system