The design and optimization of square cascades by PSOA and GOA to provide fresh fuel for a nuclear power reactor

ABSTRACT Due to the higher flexibility of square cascades than tapered cascades, this research focuses on the design and optimization of square cascades to provide the enriched uranium used in the fresh fuel of a power reactor with different enrichment levels. In order to design and optimize square cascades, two computational codes based on the particle swarm optimization algorithm and the grasshopper optimization algorithm have been developed for the design and optimization of square cascades. The results show that by using optimal square cascades, it is possible to directly produce the fresh enriched uranium required for a power reactor at different enrichment levels (4.1%, 3.7%, and 3.3%), and there is no need to dilute the products enriched by natural or depleted uranium, and the mixing unit can be removed from enrichment facilities. Also, the results obtained from both algorithms show that the total number of optimized square cascades and gas centrifuges required for the production of the annual fuel for a power reactor are very close to each other and have a difference of about 0.65–1.24%.