Elitist Rao Algorithms and R-Method for Optimization of Energy Systems

Abstract

Identifying, examining, and optimizing the impact of different parameters in a renewable energy system can significantly help determine its efficiency. Furthermore, since these systems have several objectives such as power output, system efficiency, investment cost, economic, and ecological factors, it is often not preferable to present the optimum system parameters considering just one objective. This article proposes three improved versions of recently developed Rao algorithms named elitist Rao algorithms to find optimum system parameters of renewable energy systems. In addition, a new multi-attribute decision-making method named R-method is proposed for selecting the best solution from the Pareto-fronts obtained using the elitist Rao algorithms. The proposed algorithms are tested using 30 single-objective unconstrained benchmark functions, and the significance of improvement over basic Rao algorithms is validated using the Friedman statistical test. Later, the proposed algorithms’ performances are tested in multi- and many-objective optimization scenarios of a solar-assisted Stirling heat engine system and a turbocharged direct injection diesel engine system. Furthermore, the proposed algorithms’ effectiveness is presented in terms of hypervolume, coverage, and spacing metrics. Also, the performances of the proposed algorithms in single-, multi-, and many-objective optimization are compared with the other algorithms from the literature and found to be superior or competitive.

Disclosure statement

On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ravipudi Venkata Rao

Ravipudi Venkata Rao is In-Charge Director and a Professor (Higher Administrative Orade) in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, S.V. National Institute of Technology, Surat, India. He has more than 30 years of teaching and research experience. He gained his B.Tech in 1988, M.Tech in 1991, and Ph.D. in 2002. His research interests include CAD/CAM, CIMS, advanced optimization methods, and fuzzy multiple attribute decision-making methods. He has published more than 350 research papers in national and international journals and conference proceedings and received national and international awards for best research work. He has been a reviewer for many national and international journals and on the editorial boards of few international journals. He has authored seven books published by Springer Verlag, UK.

Hameer Singh Keesari

Hameer Singh Keesari is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering of Sreenidhi Institute of Science and Technology, Hyderabad, India. He has about 9 years of teaching and research experience. His research interests include renewable energy systems design optimization and advanced optimization methods. He has published 12 research papers in national and international journals and conference proceedings.

Jan Taler

Jan Taler is a Professor with the Department of Energy, Cracow University of Technology, Poland. He has authored or coauthored more than 300 publications in scientific journals. He has also authored or coauthored l0 books and over 20 chapters in scientific monographs and entries in Encyclopedia of Thermal Stresses. He has participated in many research projects funded by industry and the Polish Committee for Scientific Research. Many of his innovative technical solutions have been implemented in power plants. He conducts research in the field of heat transfer engineering and thermal power engineering in the following issues: inverse heat conduction problems, measurement of heat flux and heat transfer coefficient, ash fouling and slagging in steam boilers. boiler dynamics of large steam boilers. thermal stresses, monitoring of power boilers, and remnant life of pressure elements of boilers working under creep conditions.

Pawel Oclon

Pawel Oclon is an Associate Professor with the Department of Energy, Cracow University of Technology, Poland. He has published more than 100 research papers. He is on the editorial boards of various intonational journals. He is involved as a project leader or a principal investigator in several industrial projects. His main research interests are advanced optimization algorithms, computational fluid dynamics, and numerical heat transfer.

David Taler

Dawid Taler is a Professor in the Institute of Thermal Engineering and Air Protection, Cracow University of Technology, Poland. He is the author or coauthor of more than 180 publications in scientific journals. He conducts research in the field of heat transfer engineering and thermal power engineering. He has participated in many research projects funded by industry and the Polish Committee for Scientific Research. Many of his innovative technical solutions have been implemented in power plants.