Abstract
The continuous adjoint method is formulated and utilized for the optimization of a static mixing device. The CFD tool used for the simulations is based on a two-phase model governing flows of two miscible fluids. The formulation of the corresponding continuous adjoint problem is presented and the computed gradients are utilized in an optimization loop. In specific, a multi-objective optimization problem is formulated and solved for maximum mixture uniformity at the outlet and minimum total pressure losses inside a static mixing device. The weighted sum of these two quantities of interest is the objective function to be minimized by solving a single-objective problem. Through the solution of a number of optimization problems, with different weights each, the Pareto front of optimal solutions is computed. Two optimization approaches are employed taking the manufacturability of the final shape into consideration, giving rise to different optimal designs to be discussed and compared. Differences in the efficiency and the optimal shapes between the two approaches are thoroughly discussed and compared.
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Acknowledgements
Parts of this work have been conducted within the IODA project (http://ioda.sems.qmul.ac.uk), funded by the European Union HORIZON 2020 Framework Programme for Research and Innovation under Grant Agreement No. 642959.
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Alexias, P., Giannakoglou, K.C. Optimization of a static mixing device using the continuous adjoint to a two-phase mixing model. Optim Eng 21, 631–650 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11081-019-09466-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11081-019-09466-x