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Reloading Nuclear Reactor Fuel Using Mixed-Integer Nonlinear Optimization

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Abstract

A nodal nuclear reactor reload pattern optimization model is solved using mixed-integer nonlinear optimization techniques. Unlike currently used heuristic search methods, this method enables continuous optimization of the amount of Burnable Poisons in fresh fuel bundles in a natural way, which is shown in the first part of the article. The second part treats an algorithmic extension using dedicated cuts in a mixed-integer nonlinear optimization algorithm, which push the optimization towards solutions where local power peaks in parts of the core are avoided.

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Quist, A.J., Roos, K., Terlaky, T. et al. Reloading Nuclear Reactor Fuel Using Mixed-Integer Nonlinear Optimization. Optimization and Engineering 2, 251–276 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1015354615402

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