A novel multi-objective optimization method, imperialist competitive algorithm, for fuel loading pattern of nuclear reactors

Imperialist Competitive Algorithm (ICA) has been successfully applied to the various optimization problems and has demonstrated great results in both the global optimal achievement and the convergence rate. In this work, the ICA has been applied to achieve the best fuel arrangement of the VVER-1000 reactor core during the cycle. Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) core optimal arrangement has been searched by considering the minimization of the power peaking factor, flattening of the radial neutron flux distribution and maximizing the effective multiplication factor (Keff) of the core. Cross section and power distribution calculations have been performed by DRAGON-4 and CITATION codes, respectively. The algorithm implementation has been carried out in MATLAB framework for optimization of one-sixth (1/6) and one-twelfth (1/12) symmetry of the core. The results show that this method can be used as an efficient computational method for finding an optimized multi-objective loading pattern in a reactor core. •Imperialist Competitive Algorithm (ICA) has been used for VVER-1000 fuel management.•Burn-up maximization and core power distribution flattening are the main objectives.•DRAGON-4 and CITATION codes have been applied for neutronic calculations.