An efficient two-step optimization method for mass exchanger network synthesis

A novel mass–heat exchange network analogy, regression, and synthesis method for mass exchanger networks

“…Recently, stochastic methods, including the genetic algorithm (GA) [ 24 ], the particle swarm algorithm (PSO) [ 25 ], and the random walk algorithm with compulsive evolution (RWCE) [ 26 ] have been successfully used in the optimization of MENs. In addition, Xu et al [ 27 ] proposed a two-step optimization method combining two non-structural models using the mass loads and the number of trays for the tray columns, respectively, to improve the performance of MEN synthesis. To make the non-structural model adaptive to multi-component MEN synthesis, Xiao et al [ 28 ] presented a node-based vertical non-structural model (NV-NSM) and optimized the model using the RWCE and fine-search strategy (FS).…”