Application of firefly algorithm for design optimization of a shell and tube heat exchanger from economic point of view

In the present work, a shell and tube heat exchanger optimization design approach is developed with respect to the total annual cost by application of Firefly algorithm. The total annual cost including the investment cost and the operating cost is considered to be the objective function of the optimization process. The developed algorithm is applied to two case studies and the results show that the operating cost can be reduced by 77% while the total cost can be reduced by 29% as compared to the original design. Further the outcome of the Firefly algorithm is compared with various design optimization algorithms and the results show a much better solution to the problem of economic optimization for the design of a shell and tube heat exchanger. Simultaneously, the present method shows a marginal development in increase of overall heat transfer coefficient and decrease of heat exchanger area corresponding to same heat duty as compared to other optimization methods.