US 6,748,348 B1 · Design method for nuclear reactor fuel management

Abstract

In the design method for nuclear reactor fuel management, nuclear reactor operation for sets of independent control variable values is simulated to produce associated sets of dependent performance variable values. Transfer functions are generated based on the sets of independent control variable values and the sets of dependent performance variable values. The transfer functions represent relationships between the independent control variables and the dependent performance variables. Additional sets of dependent performance variable values are then generated for additional sets of independent control variable values using the generated transfer functions. A set of independent control variable values for possible use in operating a nuclear reactor is then determined based on the sets of dependent performance variable values and the additional sets of dependent performance variable values.

Claims38

Dependent claims

A design method for nuclear reactor fuel management, comprising:

first simulating nuclear reactor operation for sets of independent control variable values to produce associated sets of dependent performance variable values;
generating polynomials based on the sets of independent control variable values and the sets of dependent performance variable values, the polynomials representing relationships between the independent control variables and the dependent performance variables;
generating additional sets of dependent performance variable values for additional sets of independent control variable values using the generated polynomials;
and
determining a set of independent control variable values for possible use in operating a nuclear reactor based on the sets of dependent performance variable values and the additional sets of dependent performance variable values.

2 more elements

A design method for nuclear reactor fuel management, comprising:

first simulating nuclear reactor operation for sets of independent control variable values to produce associated sets of dependent performance variable values;
generating polynomials based on the sets of independent control variable values and the sets of dependent performance variable values, the polynomials representing relationships between the independent control variables and the dependent performance variables;
using the polynomials to obtain sets of dependent performance variable values based on corresponding sets of independent control variable values;
applying an objective function to sets of the dependent performance variable values;
and
selecting at least one set of independent control variable values based on the objective function values;
first simulating nuclear reactor operation for the produced set of independent control variable values;
and
deciding whether the produced set of independent control variable values provides an improvement in nuclear reactor operation based on results of the simulating step.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Design method for nuclear reactor fuel management

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Design method for nuclear reactor fuel management

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims38