Multiobjective Optimization of the Plate Element of Egyptian Research Reactor Using Genetic Algorithm

The second Egyptian Research Reactor, ET-RR-2, went critical on November 27, 1997. The National Center of Nuclear Safety and Radiation Control has the responsibility for the evaluation and the assessment of the safety of this reactor. The purpose of this paper is to present an approach to the optimization of the fuel element plate, in which every target is considered as a separate objective to be optimized. Multiobjective optimization is a powerful tool for resolving conflicting objectives in engineering design and numerous other fields. The fuel element plate is designed with a view to improve reliability and lifetime, and it is one of the most important elements during the shutdown. In this paper, we present a conceptual design approach for the fuel element plate, in conjunction with a genetic algorithm to obtain a fuel plate that maximizes a fitness value for optimizing the safety design of the fuel plate.