AI-Powered Reload Planning

A data-driven model for predicting moisture carryover (MCO) in the General Electric Type-4 boiling water reactor (BWR) was constructed using a physics-constrained artificial intelligence technique.

An accurate prediction of the MCO is of great value for commercial BWR operators as it can be used to modify the operational plan during a power cycle to mitigate high MCO, thereby avoiding elevated dose to on-site personnel and damage to turbine components.

Using data from operational plants and preliminary features selected through physics and engineering analyses, a neural network based model for predicting MCO was built. A final feature set was then obtained through a hyperspace optimization performed using a genetic algorithm.

Multiple neural network models possessing good generalization were obtained, the best of these having a mean-square error (MSE) of 9.69E-5 for prediction of an unseen cycle, which is in agreement with the uncertainty in the measured MCO data. This predictive capability is of great value for the planning of a power generation cycle, and for scheduling of operations for cycles already underway.

Leveraging Blue Wave AI-based tools has allowed nuclear power providers to reduce costs and refine efficiency.