Parameter estimation of a pressure swing adsorption model for air separation using multi-objective optimisation and support vector regression model

In order to successfully estimate parameters of a numerical model, multiple criteria should be considered. Multi-objective Differential Evolution (MODE) and Multi-objective Genetic Algorithm (MOGA) have proved effective in numerous such applications, where most of the techniques relying on the condition of Pareto efficiency to compare different solutions. We describe the performance of two population based search algorithms (Nondominated Sorting Differential Evolution (NSDE) and Nondominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm (NGAII)) when applied to parameter estimation of a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) model. Full PSA mode is a complicated dynamic processing involving all transfer phenomena (mass, heat and momentum transfer) and has proven to be successful in a wide of applications. The limitation of using full PSA models is their expensive computational requirement. The parameter estimation analysis usually needs to run the numerical model and evaluate the performance thousands of times. However, in real world applications, there is simply not enough time and resources to perform such a huge number of model runs. In this study, a computational framework, known as v-support vector regression (v-SVR) PSA model, is presented for solving computationally expensive simulation problems. Formulation of an automatic parameter estimation strategy for the PSA model is outline. The simulations show that the NSDE is able to find better spread of solutions and better convergence near the true Pareto-optimal front compared to NSGAII-one elitist MOGA that pays special attention to creating a diverse Pareto-optimal front.

► A novel hybrid model is presented for solving expensive simulation problems.
► The objective function value is predicted using support vector machine.
► The approach can reduce computer running time without loss of accuracy.
► A multi-objective differential evolution is used for parameter estimation.