Application of perturbation theory and simulated annealing algorithm on neutronics optimization for CFETR HCCB TBB

For the neutronics design of a tritium breeding blanket (TBB) of fusion reactor, it is an essential object to produce enough tritium to achieve the tritium self-sufficiency with the tritium breeding ratio (TBR) >1. This paper presents an application study of perturbation theory and simulated annealing (SA) algorithm on neutronics optimization for the China Fusion Engineering Test Reactor (CFETR) helium-cooled ceramic breeder (HCCB) TBB. Firstly, an innovative method of neutronics optimization on the basis of the perturbation theory and the SA algorithm was studied. Next, the neutronics optimization code for the solid breeder TBB was developed, and both the convergence stability and the optimization performances were verified. Finally, the neutronics optimization application on a CFETR HCCB TBB typical module was performed. Compared with the optimized results by the hill-climbing algorithm based on neutronics transport calculations, the SA algorithm based on the perturbation calculations shows a stronger ability for TBR enhancement and demonstrates lower computational costs and higher optimization efficiency.