A Comparative Study of Evolutionary Algorithms for Optimization of Heat Exchanger with Microchannel Coil

In this paper a comparative study of several algorithms for the optimization of heat exchanger with microchannel coil has been done. Multivariate optimizations included three geometrical parameters of heat exchanger which, as predicted, significantly influence hydrodynamic behaviour of the system. Data set used for the optimization has been numerically acquired and experimentally validated. The air/water side numerical model of heat exchanger composed of flat tubes with rectangular shapes has been used. Objective function that combines the heat transfer rate and the pressure drops of air and water has been developed and employed for an optimization procedure. Two evolutionary algorithms have been used (Genetic Algorithm and Simulated Annealing) and compared with Pattern Search algorithm. The comparison of results has been made along with the analysis and final conclusions.