Design optimization of rotary regenerator using artificial bee colony algorithm

This study explores the use of artificial bee colony (ABC) algorithm for the design optimization of rotary regenerator. Maximization of regenerator effectiveness and minimization of regenerator pressure drop are considered as objective functions and are treated individually and then simultaneously for single-objective and multi-objective optimization, respectively. Seven design variables such as regenerator frontal area, matrix rotational speed, matrix rod diameter, matrix thickness, porosity, and split are considered for optimization. A case study is also presented to demonstrate the effectiveness and accuracy of the proposed algorithm. The results of optimization using ABC algorithm are validated by comparing with those obtained using genetic algorithm for the same case study. The effect of variation of ABC algorithm parameters on convergence and fitness value of the objective function has also been presented.