Multi-objective optimization of a plain fin-and-tube heat exchanger using genetic algorithm

Abstract

In the present paper, a plate fin-and-tube heat exchanger (PFTHE) is considered for optimization with air and water as working fluid, four geometric variables are taken as parameters for optimization, a Genetic Algorithm (GA) was used to search for the optimal structure sizes of the PFTHE, the maximum total heat transfer rate and the minimum total pressure drop are taken as objective functions in GA, respectively. Performance of the optimized result was evaluated and correspondingly the total heat transfer rate, the total pressure drop, the heat transfer coefficient and the local Nusselt number, j-factor and friction factor ξ are calculated respectively. Results show that the total heat transfer rate of the optimized heat exchanger increased by about 2.1–9.2% comparing with the original one, the heat transfer coefficient increased by about 8.2–14.7% and the total pressure drop decreased by about 4.4–8% in the range of Re = 1200–14000.