A collaborative optimization method for heat transfer systems based on the heat current method and entransy dissipation extremum principle

Optimization of the heat transfer system (HTS) plays an important role in energy utilization fields. However, two aspects of HTS optimization: local optimization for components and system global optimization, are generally performed independently, thus a combination of them is required. This contribution proposes a collaborative optimization strategy for HTS and minimizes the total pumping power consumption for a typical HTS. The global optimization employs the heat current method to derive global optimum results without redundant intermediate variables, and the local optimization applies the CFD-based simulation and the entransy dissipation extremum principle which obtains the optimum flow field directly. Besides, these two parts are integrated by the iteration and updating strategy with an optimization platform. Results present local optimization of components and global optimization of the HTS influence each other. As the heat transfer duty of the HTS increases, the minimum pumping power consumption, optimal frequencies of pumps and mass flow rates increase simultaneously. However, due to the performance improvement of the convective heat transfer process in the evaporator, it requires less increment of mass flow rate. That is, the global optimization of the HTS not only requires system and component optimization but also requires an efficient collaborative optimization strategy.