A Metaheuristic Optimization Tool for High Flux Isotope Reactor Low-Enriched Uranium Core Design
A metaheuristic optimization tool was developed for design optimization studies of a High Flux Isotope Reactor low-enriched uranium core. Low-enriched uranium core design presents a multidimensional, multi-objective optimization problem that requires a systematic approach to avoid arbitrary design decisions. This tool searches this multidimensional design space to generate an optimum design, considering a weighted design performance metric that includes several parameters. The search methods are discussed herein, and the tool is applied to uranium silicide fuel designs.