PWR fuel management optimization using continuous particle swarm intelligence

• Published in: Annals of nuclear energy Vol. 37; no. 10; pp. 1263 - 1271
• Main Authors: Khoshahval, F., Zolfaghari, A., Minuchehr, H., Sadighi, M., Norouzi, A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.10.2010
• Subjects: Combinatorial analysis; Fuel management; Management; Nuclear engineering; Nuclear fuels; Nuclear power generation; Nuclear reactors; Nuclear safety; Optimization; Pressurized water reactors; PSO; Swarm intelligence; WWER-1000; Fuel management; WWER-1000; PSO; Optimization
• ISSN: 0306-4549; 1873-2100
• DOI: 10.1016/j.anucene.2010.05.023

The objective of nuclear fuel management is to minimize the cost of electrical energy generation subject to operational and safety constraints. In the present work, a core reload optimization package using continuous version of particle swarm optimization, CRCPSO, which is a combinatorial and discrete one has been developed and mapped on nuclear fuel loading pattern problems. This code is applicable to all types of PWR cores to optimize loading patterns. To evaluate the system, flattening of power inside a WWER-1000 core is considered as an objective function although other variables such as K eff along power peaking factor, burn up and cycle length can be included. Optimization solutions, which improve the safety aspects of a nuclear reactor, may not lead to economical designs. The system performed well in comparison to the developed loading pattern optimizer using Hopfield along SA and GA.