Lexicographic multi-objective optimization of thermoacoustic refrigerator’s stack

Abstract

This work develops a novel mathematical programming model to optimize the performance of a simple thermoacoustic refrigerator (TAR). This study aims to optimize the geometric parameters namely the stack position, the stack length, the blockage ratio and the plate spacing involved in designing TARs. System parameters and constraints that capture the underlying thermoacoustic dynamics have been used to define the models. The cooling load, the coefficient of performance and the acoustic power loss have been used to measure the performance of the device. The optimization task is formulated as a three-criterion nonlinear programming problem with discontinuous derivatives (DNLP). Since we optimize multiple objectives simultaneously, each objective component has been given a weighting factor to provide appropriate user-defined emphasis. A practical example is given to illustrate the approach. We have determined a design statement of a stack describing how the geometrical parameters describing would change if emphasis is given to one objective in particular. We also considered optimization of multiple objectives components simultaneously and identify global optimal solutions describing the stack geometry using a lexicographic multi-objective optimization scheme. Additionally, this approach illustrates the difference between a design for maximum cooling and best coefficient of performance of a simple TAR.