PRESSURIZED-WATER REACTOR LOADING PATTERN DESIGN USING THE SIMPLE TABU SEARCH

A computer program based on the simple tabu search has been developed to search for pressurized water reactor loading patterns (LPs). The ta bu search is a heuristic procedure for solving optimization problems. To save computer rime, a design target was defined, which is the value of the nuclear enthalpy rise hot-channel factor F-Delta H at each fie ld assembly (FA) position for zero xenon concentration and zero exposu re condition. When the values of F-Delta H of a trial LP satisfy the d esign target, this LP may meet the design limit at each exposure check point for all rods-out and D-bank half-inserted conditions, which is t he design requirement. The objective function was defined to search fo r an LP whose F-Delta H is Smaller than the design target, i.e., a fea sible LP. An initial LP is properly generated by using the heuristic r ules. Then the LP is rearranged by exchanging FAs or rotating the FA, which is carried out by employing the simple tabu search. The heuristi c rules were incorporated into the tabu search to generate the candida te moves so that the search was efficient. The program was demonstrate d by successfully generating LPs for the Maanshan nuclear power plant in Taiwan.