Nuclear Reactor Core Loading Distribution Optimization
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Nuclear reactors face challenges in efficiently determining the optimal fuel loading distribution for a beginning-of-cycle (BOC) core, leading to suboptimal performance and increased transition times from beginning-of-life to equilibrium states.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a system that receives reactor core parameter distributions, generates an initial fuel loading distribution, selects positions within regions of the simulated BOC core, calculates fuel design parameter values, and performs perturbation processes to converge the core parameter distribution within a selected tolerance level, allowing for efficient fuel assembly arrangement and operational compliance determination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional fuel loading distribution methods are used, then the core design process is simpler, but the transition time from beginning-of-life to equilibrium states is longer and performance is suboptimal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing iterative perturbation processes and simulations before the actual core operation to determine the optimal fuel loading distribution. The system pre-calculates the best arrangement of fuel assemblies, control rods, and burnable poisons to achieve equilibrium state faster, thereby reducing transition time from beginning-of-life to equilibrium states while maintaining acceptable design process complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback through iterative simulation and evaluation processes. The system calculates core parameters, compares them against target equilibrium states, and adjusts the fuel loading distribution accordingly through multiple perturbation cycles. This feedback mechanism enables the optimization of transition time by continuously refining the core design based on simulated performance data.
2Manufacturing precision
If iterative perturbation processes are performed to optimize fuel loading distribution, then core parameter convergence improves, but computational time and processing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by performing a predetermined number of perturbation processes rather than exhaustive optimization. The system iteratively adjusts fuel loading distributions through multiple simulations, but stops after a defined number of iterations or when convergence criteria are met. This approach achieves sufficient core parameter convergence (improving manufacturing precision) without requiring excessive computational time, balancing accuracy with efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by systematically varying fuel loading distributions, control rod positions, and burnable poison configurations across different perturbation iterations. The system modifies these parameters to observe their effect on core parameters such as power distribution, reactivity, and flux profiles, enabling convergence optimization while tracking computational time to prevent excessive processing.
3Productivity
If fuel assembly arrangements are optimized for beginning-of-cycle performance, then power plant performance improves, but flexibility for middle-of-cycle operations may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by optimizing specific regions of the core for beginning-of-cycle performance while maintaining overall operational flexibility. The system determines fuel loading distributions that maximize power plant performance at BOC through localized arrangements of high-enrichment fuel assemblies, control rods, and burnable poisons in specific core regions, while preserving adaptability for middle-of-cycle operations through strategic placement of interchangeable fuel types and maintainable geometric configurations.
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 1C
AI summary
The generation of a nuclear core loading distribution includes receiving a reactor core parameter distribution associated with a state of a reference nuclear reactor core, generating an initial fuel loading distribution for a simulated beginning-of-cycle (BOC) nuclear reactor core, selecting an initial set of positions for a set of regions within the simulated BOC core, generating an initial set of fuel design parameter values utilizing a design variable of each of the regions, calculating a reactor core parameter distribution of the simulated BOC core utilizing the generated initial set of fuel design parameter values associated with the set of regions located at the initial set of positions of the simulated BOC core and generating a loading distribution by performing a perturbation process on the set of regions of the simulated BOC core to determine a subsequent set of positions for the set of regions within the simulated BOC core.