Most of the strategies yet implemented to optimal fuel loading pattern design in nuclear
power reactors, are based on maximizing the core effective multiplication factor (Keff) to
extract maximum energy and lowering the local power peaking factor (Pq) from a
predetermined value. However, a new optimization criterion could be of interest, aiming at
maximum burn-up of the plutonium content in fuel assemblies, ie, minimization of remaining
plutonium in spent fuel at the end of cycle (EOC). In this research, we developed a new …