Shahrood University of Technology Journal of Solid and Fluid Mechanics 2251-9475 6 3 2016 09 22 Using net present value as a single objective function for thermo-economic optimization of a plate-fin recuperator in microturbine Using net present value as a single objective function for thermo-economic optimization of a plate-fin recuperator in microturbine 213 226 810 10.22044/jsfm.2016.810 FA P. Maghsoudi P. Hanafizadeh Journal Article 2016 04 24 In this paper, genetic and particle swarm algorithms were applied to optimize a recuperator in a 200 kW microturbine, with the net present value (NPV) considered as the objective function. Examined for the optimization purposes is a plate-fin heat exchanger of offset strip fin configuration as well as counter- and cross-flow arrangements. Fin pitch, fin height, fin offset length, recuperator flow length, recuperator width, and recuperator height were considered as the six design parameters investigated. A sensitivity analysis is performed in order to investigate the effect of design parameters on the objective function. Comparing the results of genetic algorithm(GA) to those of particle swarm algorithm indicated that, the particle swarm optimization(PSO) approach had succeeded to achieve better results from computations’ volume and optimum value perspectives. As the used objective function in this research was a function of total cost and efficiency of the recuperator, the results of the present research were compared to thermo-economic optimization results. Being based on NPV and cycle efficiency criteria, the comparisons indicated superiority of the results of the present study, when viewed from technical and economic perspectives. Results show that in the present study NPV and cycle efficiency have increased up to 11.54% and 11.69%. In this paper, genetic and particle swarm algorithms were applied to optimize a recuperator in a 200 kW microturbine, with the net present value (NPV) considered as the objective function. Examined for the optimization purposes is a plate-fin heat exchanger of offset strip fin configuration as well as counter- and cross-flow arrangements. Fin pitch, fin height, fin offset length, recuperator flow length, recuperator width, and recuperator height were considered as the six design parameters investigated. A sensitivity analysis is performed in order to investigate the effect of design parameters on the objective function. Comparing the results of genetic algorithm(GA) to those of particle swarm algorithm indicated that, the particle swarm optimization(PSO) approach had succeeded to achieve better results from computations’ volume and optimum value perspectives. As the used objective function in this research was a function of total cost and efficiency of the recuperator, the results of the present research were compared to thermo-economic optimization results. Being based on NPV and cycle efficiency criteria, the comparisons indicated superiority of the results of the present study, when viewed from technical and economic perspectives. Results show that in the present study NPV and cycle efficiency have increased up to 11.54% and 11.69%. https://jsfm.shahroodut.ac.ir/article_810_779fe49ed028a4d711e415531462c78a.pdf