A hybrid methodology for optimization of multi-stage flash-mixer desalination systems

in this paper, a new strategy involving an evolutionary algorithmic procedure for the optimization of multiple stage flash (msf-m) systems is presented. a "detailed model" of an msf-m system is developed according to rigorous material, momentum and energy balances for each stage. the model of the msf-m system is represented as a complex nlp, which incorporates a high number of nonlinear constraints that difficult the global optimum determination. here we present a hybrid methodology that uses optimal solutions obtained from a "thermodynamic method" to find the "economic global optimal solution". a pre-processing stage (solving successive nlps) is used to initialize the final nlp problem. a case study and a discussion of the results are presented.