GLOBAL DESIGN OPTIMIZATION OF A REFRIGERATION SYSTEM USING A GENETIC ALGORITHM

• Main Authors: L. Govindarajan, T. Karunanithi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Stellenbosch University 2012-01-01
• Series: South African Journal of Industrial Engineering
• Online Access: http://sajie.journals.ac.za/pub/article/view/264

<p>ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The optimal design of industrial three-stage refrigeration systems to minimize total production cost has been effectively implemented using an genetic algorithm (GA), which is an efficient alternative for conventional search algorithms. In this article the global optimum design parameters of a refrigeration system obtained by using GA is compared with the Nelder-Mead simplex search algorithm. The results prove that global design optimization using GA is more robust and simple, as it requires no initial guess values of design variables. Hence the proposed technique is well suited for designing a variety of industrially important systems.</p><p>AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die optimum ontwerp van 'n driestadium-vriessisteem om totale produksiekoste te beperk, word doeltreffend met behulp van 'n genetiese algoritme (GA) as alternatief vir konvensionele soekalgoritmes in werking gestel. Die navorsing is daarop toegespits om die globale optimum ontwerpparameters van die GA met die Nelder-Mead Simpleks-soekalgoritme te vergelyk. Die resultate toon dat die GA se globale optimum ontwerp robuust en eenvoudig is aangesien geskatte aanvangswaardes vir ontwerpveranderlikes nie benodig word nie. Derhalwe is die GA-tegniek besonder geskik vir die ontwerp van nywerheidsisteme van uiteenlopende aard. </p>