Loading pattern optimization using simulated annealing and binary machine learning pre-screening

We introduce a creative approach combining machine learning with optimization techniques to enhance the optimization of the loading pattern (LP). Finding the optimal LP is a critical decision that impacts both the reload safety and the economic feasibility of the nuclear fuel cycle. While simulated annealing (SA) is a widely accepted technique to solve the LP optimization problem, it suffers from the drawback of high computational cost since LP optimization requires three-dimensional depletion calculations. In this note, we introduce a technique to tackle this issue by leveraging neural networks to filter out inappropriate patterns, thereby reducing the number of SA evaluations. We demonstrate the efficacy of our novel approach by constructing a machine learning-based optimization model for the LP data of the Korea Standard Nuclear Power Plant (OPR-1000).