Methods of using fuel bundle groups as evaluation constraints

A method of implementing bundle groups as a constraint in an evaluation, comprising:

• creating a plurality of fuel bundle groups in a current loading map;
• generating a first plurality of proposed loading maps to establish potential core loading at a next cycle of operation;
• filtering the plurality of proposed loading maps based on a user-selected symmetry and a user-selected fuel bundle characteristic to create a second plurality of proposed loading maps, the second plurality of proposed loading maps satisfying the user-selected symmetry and the user-selected fuel bundle characteristic;
• configuring an objective function to evaluate the second plurality of proposed loading maps;
• and
• selecting a loading map from the proposed loading maps with the objective function.