PSO-based optimization of internally and externally finned tube heat exchanger

Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) is a new type of optimization algorithm, and it was used here to optimize the structural dimensions of the internally and externally finned tube exchanger. The physical and mathematical model was established, and the C + + Program was developed. The heat exchanger volume was considered as the optimization objective function; the heat transfer area required for the heat duty and the pressure drop were considered as the restrictive conditions. The transverse tube pitch, longitudinal tube pitch, the number of tube rows, fin pitch and the heat exchanger length along the direction perpendicular to the hot gas flow were taken as the optimization variables. Under the same design parameters and the same optimization variables scope of the search conditions, comparing with the results obtained by using optimization algorithm of genetic algorithm, the volume of heat exchanger obtained by using optimization algorithm of PSO algorithm decreases by 9.5%, its weight obtained reduces by 16% and the computing time needed reduces by one order of magnitude. It indicates that the PSO algorithm is superior to genetic algorithm for the optimization of heat exchanger design.