Multiobjective tabu search algorithm for the optimal design of a thermo-acoustic magneto-hydro-dynamic electric generator

The aim of the proposed work is to study the optimal design of an innovative Thermo-Acoustic-Magneto-Hydro-Dynamic electric generator, with particular reference to the Magneto-Hydro-Dynamic section. A multi-objective optimization algorithm, which makes use of a Tabu Search meta-heuristic, has been developed to this purpose. Thermo-Acoustic and Magneto-Hydro-Dynamic energy conversion processes give a great advantage by converting energy without solid moving components. This makes the cited technologies very interesting for the low weight, the low maintenance costs, and the high conversion efficiency. The design of the generator has to be optimized by considering conflicting objectives, i.e., maximizing the output power, minimizing the applied electrical voltage, and minimizing mass and size of the device. Therefore, a multi-objective vectorial optimization approach is mandatory. A fully vector scheme has been implemented that takes under control both the Pareto optimality of the solutions, and the uniformity in the Pareto front sampling.