An optimisation-based decision support system framework for multi-objective in- core fuel management of nuclear reactor cores

Date
2016-11-06
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Southern African Institute for Industrial Engineering
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The notion of in-core fuel management (ICFM) involves decision making in respect of the specific arrangement of fuel assemblies in a nuclear reactor core. This arrangement, referred to as a reload configuration, influences the efficiency and effectiveness of fuel usage in a reactor. A decision support system (DSS) may assist nuclear reactor operators in improving the quality of their reload configuration designs. In this paper, a generic optimisation-based DSS framework is proposed for multi-objective ICFM, with the intention of serving as a high-level formalisation of a computerised tool that can assist reactor operators in their complex ICFM decisions.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Binne-kern brandstofbestuur (BKBB) behels die neem van besluite oor die rangskikking van brandstofelemente in ‘n kernreaktor. So ‘n rangskikking staan bekend as ‘n herlaai-konfigurasie en beïnvloed die doeltreffendheid en doelmatigheid van brandstofverbruik in die reaktor. ‘n Besluitsteunstelsel (BSS) mag kernreaktor-operateurs help om die kwaliteit van hul herlaaikonfigurasie-ontwerpe te verbeter. In hierdie artikel word ‘n generiese optimerings-gebaseerde BSS vir veeldoelige BKBB voorgestel wat ten doel het om as ‘n hoë-vlak formalisering van ‘n gerekenariseerde toepassing te dien wat operateurs kan bystaan met hul komplekse BKBB-verwante besluite.
Description
CITATION: Schlunz, E. B., Bokov, P. M. & Van Vuuren, J. H. 2016. An optimisation-based decision support system framework for multi-objective in- core fuel management of nuclear reactor cores. South African Journal of Industrial Engineering, 27(3):201-209, doi:10.7166/27-3-1650.
The original publication is available at http://sajie.journals.ac.za/pub
Keywords
Fuel industry, Decision making, Decision support systems
Citation
Schlunz, E. B., Bokov, P. M. & Van Vuuren, J. H. 2016. An optimisation-based decision support system framework for multi-objective in- core fuel management of nuclear reactor cores. South African Journal of Industrial Engineering, 27(3):201-209, doi:10.7166/27-3-1650