Multiobjective optimization of the inspection intervals of a nuclear safety system: A clustering-based framework for reducing the Pareto Front

In this paper, a framework is developed for identifying a limited number of representative solutions of a multiobjective optimization problem concerning the inspection intervals of the components of a safety system of a nuclear power plant. Pareto Front solutions are first clustered into 'families', which are then synthetically represented by a 'head of the family' solution. Three clustering methods are analyzed. Level Diagrams are then used to represent, analyse and interpret the Pareto Fronts reduced to their head-of-the-family solutions. Two decision situations are considered: without or with decision maker preferences, the latter implying the introduction of a scoring system to rank the solutions with respect to the different objectives: a fuzzy preference assignment is then employed to this purpose. The results of the application of the framework of analysis to the problem of optimizing the inspection intervals of a nuclear power plant safety system show that the clustering-based reduction maintains the Pareto Front shape and relevant characteristics, while making it easier for the decision maker to select the final solution.