A novel optimization method, Gravitational Search Algorithm (GSA), for PWR core optimization

In-core fuel management optimization (ICFMO) is one of the most challenging concepts of nuclear engineering. In recent decades several meta-heuristic algorithms or computational intelligence methods have been expanded to optimize reactor core loading pattern. This paper presents a new method of using Gravitational Search Algorithm (GSA) for in-core fuel management optimization. The GSA is constructed based on the law of gravity and the notion of mass interactions. It uses the theory of Newtonian physics and searcher agents are the collection of masses. In this work, at the first step, GSA method is compared with other meta-heuristic algorithms on Shekel's Foxholes problem. In the second step for finding the best core, the GSA algorithm has been performed for three PWR test cases including WWER-1000 and WWER-440 reactors. In these cases, Multi objective optimizations with the following goals are considered, increment of multiplication factor (Keff), decrement of power peaking factor (PPF) and power density flattening. It is notable that for neutronic calculation, PARCS (Purdue Advanced Reactor Core Simulator) code is used. The results demonstrate that GSA algorithm have promising performance and could be proposed for other optimization problems of nuclear engineering field.