Optimization of reload core designs for pressurized water reactors

David J. Kropaczek; Paul J. Turinsky; Scott B. Thomas

Optimization of reload core designs for pressurized water reactors

David J. Kropaczek, Paul J. Turinsky, Scott B. Thomas

Research output: Contribution to specialist publication › Article

Abstract

A computational capability to determine fuel and burnable poison (BP) loading patterns (LPs) via mathematical optimization has been developed through the cooperation of member utilities and nuclear fuel vendors of the North Carolina State University Electric Power Research Center. The FORMOSA-P code employs the random search technique of Simulated Annealing (SA) in examining tens of thousands of candidate LPs, achievable within several hours on a modern workstation. The optimization produces not a single result, but multiple solutions ranked according to varying LP characteristics. Thus, this FORMOSA-P is a tool to assist the core design engineer in making optimal decisions. It also reduces the turnaround time and drudgery involved in hand optimization and provides candidate loading patterns generated according to a firm mathematical basis, with well-posed objective function and constraints. A fuel placement solution algorithm is presented.

Original language	English
Pages	34-38
Number of pages	5
Volume	13
No	1
Specialist publication	Nuclear Plant Journal
State	Published - Jan 1995
Externally published	Yes

Cite this

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title = "Optimization of reload core designs for pressurized water reactors",

abstract = "A computational capability to determine fuel and burnable poison (BP) loading patterns (LPs) via mathematical optimization has been developed through the cooperation of member utilities and nuclear fuel vendors of the North Carolina State University Electric Power Research Center. The FORMOSA-P code employs the random search technique of Simulated Annealing (SA) in examining tens of thousands of candidate LPs, achievable within several hours on a modern workstation. The optimization produces not a single result, but multiple solutions ranked according to varying LP characteristics. Thus, this FORMOSA-P is a tool to assist the core design engineer in making optimal decisions. It also reduces the turnaround time and drudgery involved in hand optimization and provides candidate loading patterns generated according to a firm mathematical basis, with well-posed objective function and constraints. A fuel placement solution algorithm is presented.",

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year = "1995",

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AB - A computational capability to determine fuel and burnable poison (BP) loading patterns (LPs) via mathematical optimization has been developed through the cooperation of member utilities and nuclear fuel vendors of the North Carolina State University Electric Power Research Center. The FORMOSA-P code employs the random search technique of Simulated Annealing (SA) in examining tens of thousands of candidate LPs, achievable within several hours on a modern workstation. The optimization produces not a single result, but multiple solutions ranked according to varying LP characteristics. Thus, this FORMOSA-P is a tool to assist the core design engineer in making optimal decisions. It also reduces the turnaround time and drudgery involved in hand optimization and provides candidate loading patterns generated according to a firm mathematical basis, with well-posed objective function and constraints. A fuel placement solution algorithm is presented.

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Optimization of reload core designs for pressurized water reactors

Abstract

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