Application of genetic algorithms for overall optimization of an active noise control system in an enclosure

One of the main important aspects in designing an active control system is the optimization of position and number of sensors and actuators. In this paper this problem is addressed for the implementation of a multi-channel active noise control (ANC) system with the aim of global reduction of broad-band noise in a telephone kiosk. This includes optimizing the locations for loudspeakers and microphones, finding proper size of the control system, i.e. the number of loudspeakers and microphones, and optimization of the control signals. The mean of acoustic potential energy in the enclosure in a frequency range of 50 Hz to 300 Hz is selected as the performance index for optimization purpose. Several genetic algorithms are proposed and compared to find the global minimum of this performance index. In order to have a better performance in reaching the global minimum, the parameters of these genetic algorithms are tuned, and the best genetic algorithm is selected among them. The main difference between the proposed algorithms is the used coding scheme. Numerical simulations of the acoustical potential energy and also sound pressure at the height where the head of a person may be located, confirms the optimality of the locations proposed by the genetic algorithm.