Title: Towards an innovative virtual optimisation machine for the power industry

Authors: Benedetto Risio, Frank Blum, Jens Hetzer, Alexander Berreth, Uwe Schnell Klaus R.G. Hein

Addresses: RECOM Services GmbH, Technologiezentrum, Nobelstr. 15, D-70569 Stuttgart, Germany. ' RECOM Services GmbH, Technologiezentrum, Nobelstr. 15, D-70569 Stuttgart, Germany. ' RECOM Services GmbH, Technologiezentrum, Nobelstr. 15, D-70569 Stuttgart, Germany. ' RECOM Services GmbH, Technologiezentrum, Nobelstr. 15, D-70569 Stuttgart, Germany. ' Institute of Process Engineering and Power Plant Technology (IVD), University of Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 23, D-70569 Stuttgart, Germany. ' Institute of Process Engineering and Power Plant Technology (IVD), University of Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 23, D-70569 Stuttgart, Germany

Abstract: The present work reports the development of a fully automated, innovative, optimisation environment (optimisation machine) based on evolutionary algorithms. The evolutionary algorithm uses the same mechanisms (selection, recombination, and mutation) as the natural evolution to identify fittest (=optimised) individuals (=operational settings and designs). The optimisation machine is capable of automatically determining potential better scenarios, evaluating the achieved results, and working out future development strategies. The applicability of this machine for industrial problem solving is demonstrated by the computer-aided repetition of successful optimisation exercises in power plants. The optimisation machine is able to identify the same optimised settings that can be found experimentally. A comparison of the required time and manpower effort clearly shows the advantages of the computer-aided approach.

Keywords: automatic optimisation; computer-aided optimisation; evolutionary algorithms; genetic algorithms; optimised settings; industrial furnaces; boilers; combustion modelling; 3D-CFD; computational fluid dynamics; virtual optimisation machine; power industry; power plants; boiler optimisation.

DOI: 10.1504/PCFD.2005.007426

Progress in Computational Fluid Dynamics, An International Journal, 2005 Vol.5 No.7, pp.398 - 405

Published online: 18 Jul 2005 *

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