Evaluation of Covariance Matrix Adaptation Evolution Strategy, Shuffled Complex Evolution and Firefly Algorithms for phase stability, phase equilibrium and chemical equilibrium problems

► FA, CMA-ES and SCE algorithms were tested in phase equilibrium calculations. ► Their strengths for phase equilibrium and phase stability problems were identified. ► FA was found to be the most reliable among the three techniques. ► CMA-ES can find the global minimum reliably and accurately with fewer iterations.