Multi-Objective Design Optimization of Hollow Fiber Membrane-Based Liquid Desiccant Module Using Particle Swarm Optimization Algorithm

Hollow fiber membrane-based liquid desiccant air dehumidification is an effective method for air dehumidification. The benefit of this technique is that the carryover problem of air mixing with desiccant solution can be avoided. Optimal design of the hollow fiber membrane-based liquid desiccant module is presented in this paper. Two objective functions are total entropy generation and total annual cost. However, a lower entropy generation often corresponds to a higher cost of the designed hollow fiber membrane module. To balance the total entropy generation and the total annual cost of hollow fiber membrane-based liquid desiccant modules, the multi-objective particle swarm algorithm is developed for the optimal hollow fiber membrane module design problem. The geometric variables like length of fiber, inner diameter of fiber, number of fiber and packing fraction effect on the total entropy generation and total annual cost are studied. The optimal structural parameters of a hollow fiber membrane-based desiccant module are obtained using multi-objective particle swarm algorithm.