Multi-Objective Optimization Model Development to Support Sizing Decisions for a Novel Reciprocating Steam Engine Technology

2018 ◽  
Vol 140 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. Hamel ◽  
Devin Allphin ◽  
Joshua Elroy

A system-level computational model of a recently patented and prototyped novel steam engine technology was developed from first principles for the express purpose of performing design optimization studies for the engine's inventors. The developed system model consists of numerous submodels including a flow model of the intake process, a dynamic model of the intake valve response, a pressure model of the engine cylinder, a kinematic model of the engine piston, and an output model that determines engine performance parameters. A crank-angle discretization strategy was employed to capture the performance of engine throughout a full cycle of operation, thus requiring all engine design submodels to be evaluated at each crank angle of interest. To produce a system model with sufficient computational speed to be useful within optimization algorithms, which must exercise the system level model repeatedly, various simplifying assumptions and modeling approximations were utilized. The model was tested by performing a series of multi-objective design optimization case studies using the geometry and operating conditions of the prototype engine as a baseline. The results produced were determined to properly capture the fundamental behavior of the engine as observed in the operation of the prototype and demonstrated that the design of engine technology could be improved over the baseline using the developed computational model. Furthermore, the results of this study demonstrate the applicability of using a multi-objective optimization-driven approach to conduct conceptual design efforts for various engine system technologies.

Author(s):  
Josh Hamel ◽  
Devin Allphin ◽  
Joshua Elroy

A novel reciprocating steam engine technology that utilizes reed valves has been developed, prototyped and patented by researchers at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) in Livermore, CA. To assist in proper sizing of this new technology in follow-on development efforts, and to better understand the interactions between various parameters, a system level computational model of the engine was developed from first principles. This model was developed for the express purpose of performing design optimization studies of the engine technology, and thus various modeling decisions were made in an effort to balance desired model accuracy with necessary computational speed. The developed model takes as inputs various environmental, geometric and kinematic parameters of the engine system and calculates the resulting power, work, torque and thermal efficiency of the proposed engine design. The model consists of numerous sub-models including a flow model for the intake fluid physics as it enters the engine, a dynamic model of the intake valve response, a pressure model of the engine cylinder, a kinematic model of the engine piston movement, and an output model that determines engine performance parameters. In order to capture the performance of the engine over time, a crank angle discretization strategy was employed and each of the engine design sub-models was evaluated for each crank angle position considered producing results based on the data obtained from the sub-model evaluations at the previous crank angle position. This strategy was determined to be necessary for accurately modeling the performance of the engine over time and crank angle position, but obviously created a computational effort challenge in that it required that various flow models and differential equations be solved iteratively within the overall model. To produce a model with sufficient computational speed to be useful within the desired optimization studies various simplifying assumptions and modeling approximations were utilized. The model was tested by performing a set of multi-objective design optimization case studies on the engine model using the geometry and operating conditions of the prototype engine developed by LLNL as a baseline. The results produced were determined to properly capture the fundamental interactions of the engine and demonstrated that the design of engine technology could be improved over the baseline through the use of the developed model.


Author(s):  
J. Schiffmann

Small scale turbomachines in domestic heat pumps reach high efficiency and provide oil-free solutions which improve heat-exchanger performance and offer major advantages in the design of advanced thermodynamic cycles. An appropriate turbocompressor for domestic air based heat pumps requires the ability to operate on a wide range of inlet pressure, pressure ratios and mass flows, confronting the designer with the necessity to compromise between range and efficiency. Further the design of small-scale direct driven turbomachines is a complex and interdisciplinary task. Textbook design procedures propose to split such systems into subcomponents and to design and optimize each element individually. This common procedure, however, tends to neglect the interactions between the different components leading to suboptimal solutions. The authors propose an approach based on the integrated philosophy for designing and optimizing gas bearing supported, direct driven turbocompressors for applications with challenging requirements with regards to operation range and efficiency. Using previously validated reduced order models for the different components an integrated model of the compressor is implemented and the optimum system found via multi-objective optimization. It is shown that compared to standard design procedure the integrated approach yields an increase of the seasonal compressor efficiency of more than 12 points. Further a design optimization based sensitivity analysis allows to investigate the influence of design constraints determined prior to optimization such as impeller surface roughness, rotor material and impeller force. A relaxation of these constrains yields additional room for improvement. Reduced impeller force improves efficiency due to a smaller thrust bearing mainly, whereas a lighter rotor material improves rotordynamic performance. A hydraulically smoother impeller surface improves the overall efficiency considerably by reducing aerodynamic losses. A combination of the relaxation of the 3 design constraints yields an additional improvement of 6 points compared to the original optimization process. The integrated design and optimization procedure implemented in the case of a complex design problem thus clearly shows its advantages compared to traditional design methods by allowing a truly exhaustive search for optimum solutions throughout the complete design space. It can be used for both design optimization and for design analysis.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 478
Author(s):  
Hao Chen ◽  
Weikun Li ◽  
Weicheng Cui ◽  
Ping Yang ◽  
Linke Chen

Biomimetic robotic fish systems have attracted huge attention due to the advantages of flexibility and adaptability. They are typically complex systems that involve many disciplines. The design of robotic fish is a multi-objective multidisciplinary design optimization problem. However, the research on the design optimization of robotic fish is rare. In this paper, by combining an efficient multidisciplinary design optimization approach and a novel multi-objective optimization algorithm, a multi-objective multidisciplinary design optimization (MMDO) strategy named IDF-DMOEOA is proposed for the conceptual design of a three-joint robotic fish system. In the proposed IDF-DMOEOA strategy, the individual discipline feasible (IDF) approach is adopted. A novel multi-objective optimization algorithm, disruption-based multi-objective equilibrium optimization algorithm (DMOEOA), is utilized as the optimizer. The proposed MMDO strategy is first applied to the design optimization of the robotic fish system, and the robotic fish system is decomposed into four disciplines: hydrodynamics, propulsion, weight and equilibrium, and energy. The computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method is employed to predict the robotic fish’s hydrodynamics characteristics, and the backpropagation neural network is adopted as the surrogate model to reduce the CFD method’s computational expense. The optimization results indicate that the optimized robotic fish shows better performance than the initial design, proving the proposed IDF-DMOEOA strategy’s effectiveness.


2020 ◽  
pp. 105-113
Author(s):  
M. Farsi

The main aim of this research is to present an optimization procedure based on the integration of operability framework and multi-objective optimization concepts to find the single optimal solution of processes. In this regard, the Desired Pareto Index is defined as the ratio of desired Pareto front to the Pareto optimal front as a quantitative criterion to analyze the performance of chemical processes. The Desired Pareto Front is defined as a part of the Pareto front that all outputs are improved compared to the conventional operating condition. To prove the efficiency of proposed optimization method, the operating conditions of ethane cracking process is optimized as a base case. The ethylene and methane production rates are selected as the objectives in the formulated multi-objective optimization problem. Based on the simulation results, applying the obtained operating conditions by the proposed optimization procedure on the ethane cracking process improve ethylene production by about 3% compared to the conventional condition.  


Author(s):  
Amit K. Thakur ◽  
Santosh K. Gupta ◽  
Rahul Kumar ◽  
Nilanjana Banerjee ◽  
Pranava Chaudhari

Abstract Slurry polymerization processes using Zeigler–Natta catalysts are most widely used for the production of polyethylene due to their several advantages over other processes. Optimal operating conditions are required to obtain the maximum productivity of the polymer at minimal cost while ensuring operational safety in the slurry phase ethylene polymerization reactors. The main focus of this multi-objective optimization study is to obtain the optimal operating conditions corresponding to the maximization of productivity and yield at a minimal operating cost. The tuned reactor model has been optimized. The single objective optimization (SOO) and multi-objective optimization (MOO) problems are solved using non-dominating sorting genetic algorithm-II (NSGA-II). A complete range of Pareto optimal solutions are obtained to obtain the maximum productivity and polymer yield at different input costs.


2011 ◽  
Vol 121-126 ◽  
pp. 2223-2227 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chun Sheng Zhu ◽  
Qi Zhang ◽  
Fan Tun Su ◽  
Hong Liang Ran

By weighing reliability, maintainability, availability and life-cycle cost of equipment which are influenced by testability,the testability indexes of system level BIT are determined on the basis of maximum system reliability & maintainability and minimum the life-circle cost. The influence mathematical models of system reliability, maintainability, availability and life-circle cost are established. According to these mathematical models, the multi-objective optimization model of system-level BIT testability indexes is established. The multi-objective optimization model is solved using Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II, and the validity of the multi-objective optimization model is proved through an example.


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