Fuel loading pattern optimization of ALLEGRO fast reactor using genetic algorithms
Por:
Lima-Reinaldo, Yrobel, Francois, Juan-Luis
Publicada:
1 ene 2023
Categoría:
Nuclear energy and engineering
Resumen:
In this work the genetic algorithmic (GA) optimization technique is used
to find the optimal fuel loading pattern in the experimental fast
reactor ALLEGRO. The penalty function method is used to solve this
multi-objective combinatorial optimization problem. To evaluate each
loading pattern, an interface between the genetic algo-rithm code and
the ERANOS 2.3 deterministic neutronic simulation code was developed.
For the simulation of the fuel cycle in ERANOS, the diffusion approach
and a 7-group energy structure are used to reduce the computational
cost. An integer variable encoding scheme was defined to represent the
fuel loading patterns. Two crossover operators, the partially mapped
crossover (PMX) and the order crossover (OX), combined with the random
mutation operator were implemented as an alternative to the classical
operators used in GA. To evaluate the performance of the code the
results are compared using two objective functions and two crossover
operators. In the first case the operating cycle length is maximized by
maximizing the k-eff value at the EOC by satisfying the constraints on
the power peaking factor over the cycle, the excess reactivity at the
BOC, and the linear heat generation rate constraints. In addition, a
condition was imposed that there should be no more than two contiguous
positions in the pattern to preserve the power distribution uniformity
and to avoid high power peaking factors. The code works very well, and a
good solution was found in a reasonable computation time. The best
solution corresponds to the PMX operator, and the running time is twice
as short compared to the OX operator. In the second case study, a power
distribution flatness term is included in the objective function. In
this case, a more uniform radial power distribution is obtained but
associated with a decrease in cycle length due to the penalty of the
flatness term.
Filiaciones:
Lima-Reinaldo, Yrobel:
Univ Nacl Autonoma Mexico, Fac Ingn, Dept Sistemas Energet, Paseo Cuauhnahuac 8532, Jiutepec 62550, Morelos, Mexico
Francois, Juan-Luis:
Univ Nacl Autonoma Mexico, Fac Ingn, Dept Sistemas Energet, Paseo Cuauhnahuac 8532, Jiutepec 62550, Morelos, Mexico
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