US Patent 7912170 Protection systems for nuclear boiling water reactors

A protection system for a nuclear boiling water reactor may include a device configured to monitor reactor power; a device configured to monitor reactor pressure; a device configured to determine a power-dependent high reactor pressure setpoint, based on the monitored reactor power; and a device configured to initiate a protection system action when the monitored reactor pressure is greater than the power-dependent high reactor pressure setpoint. The power-dependent high reactor pressure setpoint that corresponds to at least one value of percent power in an operating domain of the reactor may be less than the power-dependent high reactor pressure setpoint that corresponds to 100% reactor power.