Fusion Reactor Tritium Breeding Blanket Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current tritium breeding ratio optimization methods for fusion reactors face challenges such as strong neutron interference, statistical fluctuations in Monte Carlo codes, and inefficiencies in two-step 'local to global' optimization approaches, leading to suboptimal results and high computational costs.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method using neutronics perturbation calculations and simulated annealing to optimize the global tritium breeding ratio by adjusting internal layout, material, and geometric parameters of tritium breeding blanket modules, reducing computational burden and improving accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If two-step local to global optimization method is used, then optimization process is simplified, but optimization accuracy decreases and local interference is not considered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional two-step optimization approach by implementing a direct global optimization method that considers all blanket modules simultaneously. Instead of optimizing local modules first and then combining them, the invention optimizes the global TBR directly by adjusting neutron source distributions and material compositions across all modules together, thereby achieving both simplified process and high accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a unified optimization framework that handles both local and global optimization objectives simultaneously. The method uses a universal objective function that incorporates TBR contributions from all blanket modules while accounting for neutron interference effects, allowing a single optimization process to achieve global optimality rather than requiring separate local and global steps.
2Measurement precision
If Monte Carlo codes are used for neutronics calculation, then calculation accuracy is improved, but statistical fluctuations increase and computational cost rises
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary determination of optimal neutron source distributions and material compositions before conducting detailed Monte Carlo calculations. By pre-establishing optimized configurations through analytical or simplified numerical methods, the invention reduces the number of expensive Monte Carlo simulations needed for final verification, thereby maintaining accuracy while improving optimization efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses simplified models or surrogate representations of the complex neutronics system to guide the optimization process. These simplified models capture the essential physics and geometry characteristics, allowing rapid evaluation of design options without requiring full Monte Carlo simulations for every design point, thus improving computational efficiency while maintaining sufficient accuracy.
3Productivity
If local module optimization is performed independently, then calculation efficiency is improved, but neutron interference between modules is ignored leading to suboptimal global results
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the optimization of all blanket modules into a single integrated process. By combining the objective functions and constraints of individual modules into a unified global optimization framework, the invention ensures that neutron interference effects between modules are properly accounted for while maintaining computational efficiency through systematic formulation.
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed are a method, a device for optimizing the global tritium breeding ratio of a fusion reactor, a computer device, and a computer-readable storage medium. The method comprises: performing 3D neutronics transport calculation based on the initial scheme of tritium breeding blankets of a fusion reactor and performing the first-order and the second-order perturbation calculations for each geometrical boundary and each density of each function region, so as to obtain the local tritium breeding ratios in each energy group of each tritium breeding region in each perturbation state of the initial scheme; calculating the first-order and the second-order perturbation coefficients in each energy group of each tritium breeding region of each perturbation states based on the local tritium breeding ratios; and constructing a multi-dimensional second-order analytic function illustrating the relationship of the global tritium breeding ratio and the boundary and the density disturbance of each function region based on the perturbation coefficients ; performing an optimization for the global tritium breeding ratio based on the simulated annealing algorithm within an effective range of the perturbation calculations; repeating the above steps until convergence occurs, so as to obtain the global optimal blankets scheme of the fusion reactor with the best tritium breeding performance.