Multiobjective optimization of a free radical bulk polymerization reactor using genetic algorithm

Abstract

A multiobjective optimization technique has been developed for free radical bulk polymerization reactors using genetic algorithm. The polymerization of methyl methacrylate in a batch reactor has been studied as an example. The two objective functions which are minimized are the total reaction time and the polydispersity index of the polymer product. Simultaneously, end-point constraints are incorporated to attain desired values of the monomer conversion (xm) and the number average chain length (μn). A nondominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA) has been adapted to obtain the optimal control variable (temperature) history. It has been shown that the optimal solution converges to a unique point and no Pareto set is obtained. It has been observed that the optimal solution obtained using the NSGA for multiobjective function optimization compares very well with the solution obtained using the simple genetic algorithm (SGA) for a single objective function optimization problem, in which only the total reaction time is minimized and the two endpoint constraints on xm and μn are satisfied. © Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH, 1999.