An automatic nuclear core configuration generator

An automatic nuclear core reload pattern generator has been developed to solve the fuel-shuffling problem. The general problem solver SIREN and a production-rule system of shuffling heuristics are used to find efficient fuel-assembly configurations. The proposed expert system enables experts to check heuristic rules by conjoining a rapid execution time and a declarative approach. This expert system combines the rapid execution time of the Fortran routine and the power of the declarative language GENESIA II. An application to a real case of fuel shuffling demonstrates the capabilities of this expert system to generate satisfactory reload patterns combining modularity and efficiency