PWR fuel management optimization using neural networks

This paper presents a new method to solve the problem of finding the best c onfiguration of fuel assemblies in a pressurized water reactor (PWR) core. Finding the optimum solution requires a huge amount of calculations in clas sical methods. It has been shown that the application of continuous Hopfiel d neural network accompanied by simulated annealing method to this problem not only reduces the amount of calculations, but also guarantees finding th e best solution. In this study flattening of neutron flux inside the reacto r core of Bushehr NPP is considered as the objective function. The result i s the optimum configuration which is in agreement with the pattern proposed by the designer. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.