A Hybrid Methodology for Optimization of Multi Stage Flash-Mixer Desalination Systems

Abstract

In this paper, a new strategy involving an evolutionary algorithmic procedure for the optimization of Multi Satge Flash (MSF-M) Systems is presented. A "detailed model" of an MSF-M System is developed according to rigorous material, momentum and energy balances for each stage. The model of the MSF-M System is represented as a complex NLP, which incorporates a high number of nonlinear constraints that difficult the gloal optimum determination. Here we present a hybrid methodology that uses optimal solutions obtained from a "thermodynamic method" to find the "economic" global optimal solution. A pre-processing stage (solving succesive NLPs models) is used to initialize the final NLP problem. A case study and a discussion of results are presented.