Optimization of arrangement of conducting fins and insulated obstacles inside a cavity: the couple of numerical solutions and genetic algorithm methods

The present work optimized the arrangement of the conducting fins and insulated obstacles in the cavity by coupling numerical simulation and genetic algorithm-based optimization methods. The height and width of the fins and the distance between them, as well as the temperature of the hot surface, were considered as the design variables. The design of the experiment and the response surface method were used in the optimization process. The objective function was defined to maximize the heat transfer coefficient on the hot wall. Based on the results, in the case of installing the conducting fins on the hot wall, the distance between the fins was the most effective geometrical parameter that exhibited the highest effect on heat transfer. By using the insulated obstacles installed on the hot wall, the width of the insulated obstacles has the highest effect on the heat transfer procedure. According to results, in the case of installing the conducting fins on the hot wall, the heat transfer coefficient exhibited the highest sensitivity to the wall temperature. Moreover, at the optimal point, the genetic algorithm predicts the optimum point thermal performance with an error of less than 2%, and the heat transfer in the cavity with insulated obstacles was 1.63 times more than that of the cavity with the conducting fin.

Automated summary

This study optimized the arrangement of conducting fins and insulated obstacles in the cavity using numerical simulation and genetic algorithm-based optimization methods. The distance between the fins was found to have the highest effect on heat transfer, while the width of the insulated obstacles had the greatest impact on the heat transfer process.