Heat exchanger network synthesis and optimisation using genetic algorithm

In the last few decades, several papers were published on heat exchanger network synthesis. Most of them present techniques using mathematical programming for the synthesis and optimisation tasks. Recent developments in heat exchanger networks synthesis present some heurist methods, such as genetic algorithm (GA) and simulated annealing. In this paper, a strategy for the synthesis and optimisation of heat exchanger networks was developed using GA. First of all, the DeltaT(min) is optimised using GA jointly with the problem table, from the Pinch Analysis. By using the optimum DeltaT(min), found in the previous stage, the problem is divided in two different regions, below and above the pinch. Thus, using GA, the optimal networks above and below the pinch are obtained, considering stream splitting as well. Some examples from the literature were solved with the proposed systematic, and results show heat exchanger networks with lower costs than those ones presented in the literature for the cases studied. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.