Thermodynamic optimization design for plate-fin heat exchangers by Tsallis JADE

Abstract

This paper presents an optimization of plate-fin heat exchangers (PFHEs) considering as objective function the minimization of the entropy generation units by Adaptive Differential Evolution with Optional External Archive (JADE) and a novel JADE variant, denominated Tsallis JADE (TJADE). Plate-fin heat exchangers present some important characteristics such as high thermal conductivity and effectiveness and large heat transfer surface area per unit of volume that determinate a reduction of space and energy requirement, weight, and cost, and its design may take into account several geometrical and operational parameters. The variables used for the optimization were the heat exchanger lengths for hot and cold fluids (Lh, Lc), the height of the fin (H), fin frequency (n), the fin thickness (t), the lance length of the fin (l) and the number of fin layers for the hot fluid (Nh). Reductions of entropy generation units up to 24.30%, 9.60% and 9.30% compared to GA (Genetic Algorithm), PSO (Particle Swarm Optimization) and BA (Bees Algorithm) methods, respectively, were obtained for the first case study and reductions about 15.96%, 13.39% and 11.26% in comparison to the results obtained with GA, ICA (Imperialist Competitive Algorithm) and BA methods were obtained for the second case study.