OPTIMIZATION OF BWR FUEL MANAGEMENT USING AN ACCELERATED EXHAUSTIVE SEARCH ALGORITHM

Using an alternative to dynamic programming, optimum fuel cycle costs of a three-zone, scatter-loaded nuclear power reactor can be found with nominal computer memory and time requirements. The optimization algorithm, called Elimination of Similar End States, is an accelerated exhaustive search technique. Application to a BWR core model yielded a non-uniform loading strategy with a fuel cycle cost 5·6 per cent lower than for a reference, uniform loading scheme. © 1969.