An Evolutionary Optimization of the Refueling Simulation for a CANDU Reactor

• Published in: IEEE transactions on nuclear science Vol. 53; no. 5; pp. 2957 - 2961
• Main Authors: Do, Q.B., Choi, H., Roh, G.H.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York IEEE 01.10.2006; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Automatic control; Computational modeling; Computer simulation; Deuterium; Energy management; Fuel management; Fuels; genetic algorithm; Genetic algorithms; Inductors; Lighting control; Nuclear engineering; Nuclear power generation; Nuclear reactor components; Nuclear reactors; Optimal control; Optimization; Optimization methods; Reactor cores; Refueling; Studies; zone controller unit
• ISSN: 0018-9499; 1558-1578
• DOI: 10.1109/TNS.2006.882369

This paper presents a multi-cycle and multi-objective optimization method for the refueling simulation of a 713 MWe Canada deuterium uranium (CANDU-6) reactor based on a genetic algorithm, an elitism strategy and a heuristic rule. The proposed algorithm searches for the optimal refueling patterns for a single cycle that maximizes the average discharge burnup, minimizes the maximum channel power and minimizes the change in the zone controller unit water fills while satisfying the most important safety-related neutronic parameters of the reactor core. The heuristic rule generates an initial population of individuals very close to a feasible solution and it reduces the computing time of the optimization process. The multi-cycle optimization is carried out based on a single cycle refueling simulation. The proposed approach was verified by a refueling simulation of a natural uranium CANDU-6 reactor for an operation period of 6 months at an equilibrium state and compared with the experience-based automatic refueling simulation and the generalized perturbation theory. The comparison has shown that the simulation results are consistent from each other and the proposed approach is a reasonable optimization method of the refueling simulation that controls all the safety-related parameters of the reactor core during the simulation