Solving the Multi-objective Nonlinear Problems for Heat Exchanger Network Synthesis using Particle Swarm Optimization Technique

Soad M. Mohamed[1], Omar. S. Soliman[2], Assem A. Tharwat2,

Eman M. Gabr 1and Tahani S. Gendy1

Abstract:

Process synthesis problems mathematically represented as Multi-objective Mixed-Integer Nonlinear Programming (MO-MINLP) models, are often irregular, large, non-convex and difficult to get the overall optimum by traditional method. The Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) has very deep intelligent background, so it is suitable for science computation and engineering applications. In this paper, the MO-MINLP problem was modified, so as to be solved by (PSO) method. A PSO program has been developed and used to optimize and design Heat Exchanger Networks (HENs).  The developed PSO program and GAMS program have been applied on a HEN literature problem and their results have been compared with the published results. The PSO method achieved better results, so it can be used to design an efficient HEN with minimum utility, minimum number of heat exchangers, minimum total area of heat exchangers and so minimum overall annual cost.

Keywords: Particle swarm optimization, Multi-objective Mixed Integer Nonlinear Programming, heat exchanger network synthesis

¹ Egyptian Petroleum Research Institute (EPRI) Cairo.

[2] Faculty of Computers and Information -Cairo University.