Find in Library

Constructal optimization of a plate condenser with fixed heat transfer rate and effective volume in ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) system is performed based on constructal theory. Optimizations of entropy generation rate (<inline-formula> <math display="inline"> <semantics> <mrow> <msub> <mover accent="true"> <mi>S</mi> <mo>˙</mo> </mover> <mi mathvariant="normal">g</mi> </msub> </mrow> </semantics> </math> </inline-formula>) in heat transfer process and total pumping power (<inline-formula> <math display="inline"> <semantics> <mrow> <msub> <mi>P</mi> <mrow> <mi>sum</mi> </mrow> </msub> </mrow> </semantics> </math> </inline-formula>) due to friction loss are two conflicting objectives for a plate condenser. With the conventional optimization method, the plate condenser is designed by taking a composite function (CF) considering both <inline-formula> <math display="inline"> <semantics> <mrow> <msub> <mover accent="true"> <mi>S</mi> <mo>˙</mo> </mover> <mi mathvariant="normal">g</mi> </msub> </mrow> </semantics> </math> </inline-formula> and <inline-formula> <math display="inline"> <semantics> <mrow> <msub> <mi>P</mi> <mrow> <mi>sum</mi> </mrow> </msub> </mrow> </semantics> </math> </inline-formula> as optimization objectives, and employing effective length, width, and effective number of heat transfer plates as design variables. Effects of structural parameters of the plate condenser and weighting coefficient of CF on design results are investigated. With a multi-objective genetic algorithm, the plate condenser is designed by simultaneously optimizing <inline-formula> <math display="inline"> <semantics> <mrow> <msub> <mover accent="true"> <mi>S</mi> <mo>˙</mo> </mover> <mi mathvariant="normal">g</mi> </msub> </mrow> </semantics> </math> </inline-formula> and <inline-formula> <math display="inline"> <semantics> <mrow> <msub> <mi>P</mi> <mrow> <mi>sum</mi> </mrow> </msub> </mrow> </semantics> </math> </inline-formula>, and the Pareto optimal set is obtained. The results demonstrate that CFs after primary and twice-constructal optimizations are respectively reduced by 7.8% and 9.9% compared with the initial CF, and the effective volume of the plate condenser has a positive impact on the twice minimum CF. Furthermore, the Pareto optimal set can provide better selections for performance optimizations of plate condensers.