Comparison of Direct Multiobjective Optimization Methods for the Design of Electric Vehicles

"System design oriented methodologies" are discussed in this paper through the comparison of multiobjective optimization methods applied to heterogeneous devices in electrical engineering. Avoiding criteria function derivatives, direct optimization algorithms are used. In particular, deterministic geometric methods such as the Hooke & Jeeves heuristic approach are compared with stochastic evolutionary algorithms (Pareto genetic algorithms). Different issues relative to convergence rapidity and robustness on mixed (continuous/discrete), constrained and multiobjective problems are discussed. A typical electrical engineering heterogeneous and multidisciplinary system is considered as a case study: the motor drive of an electric vehicle. Some results emphasize the capacity of each approach to facilitate system analysis and particularly to display couplings between optimization parameters, constraints, objectives and the driving mission

Multi-disciplinary robust design of variable speed wind turbines

This paper addresses the preliminary robust multi-disciplinary design of small wind turbines. The turbine to be designed is assumed to be connected to the grid by means of power electronic converters. The main input parameter is the yearly wind distribution at the selected site, and it is represented by means of a Weibull distribution. The objective function is the electrical energy delivered yearly to the grid. Aerodynamic and electrical characteristics are fully coupled and modelled by means of low- and medium-fidelity models. Uncertainty affecting the blade geometry is considered, and a multi-objective hybrid evolutionary algorithm code is used to maximise the mean value of the yearly energy production and minimise its variance

Comparison of Geometric Optimization Methods with Multiobjective Genetic Algorithms for Solving Integrated Optimal Design Problems

In this paper, system design methodologies for optimizing heterogenous power devices in electrical engineering are investigated. The concept of Integrated Optimal Design (IOD) is presented and a simplified but typical example is given. It consists in finding Pareto-optimal configurations for the motor drive of an electric vehicle. For that purpose, a geometric optimization method (i.e the Hooke and Jeeves minimization procedure) associated with an objective weighting sum and a Multiobjective Genetic Algorithm (i.e. the NSGA-II) are compared. Several performance issues are discussed such as the accuracy in the determination of Pareto-optimal configurations and the capability to well spread these solutions in the objective space

Performance-based control system design automation via evolutionary computing

This paper develops an evolutionary algorithm (EA) based methodology for computer-aided control system design (CACSD) automation in both the time and frequency domains under performance satisfactions. The approach is automated by efficient evolution from plant step response data, bypassing the system identification or linearization stage as required by conventional designs. Intelligently guided by the evolutionary optimization, control engineers are able to obtain a near-optimal ‘‘off-thecomputer’’ controller by feeding the developed CACSD system with plant I/O data and customer specifications without the need of a differentiable performance index. A speedup of near-linear pipelineability is also observed for the EA parallelism implemented on a network of transputers of Parsytec SuperCluster. Validation results against linear and nonlinear physical plants are convincing, with good closed-loop performance and robustness in the presence of practical constraints and perturbations

DEKAS - An evolutionary case-based reasoning system to support protection scheme design

This paper describes a decision support system being developed in conjunction with two UK utility companies to aid the design of electrical power transmission protection systems. A brief overview of the application domain is provided, followed by a description of the work carried out to date concerning the development and deployment of the Design Engineering Knowledge Application System (DEKAS). The paper then discusses the provision of intelligent decision support to the design engineer through the application of case-based reasoning (CBR). The key benefits from this will be outlined in conjunction with a relevant case study

DIFFERENTIAL EVOLUTION FOR OPTIMIZATION OF PID GAIN IN ELECTRICAL DISCHARGE MACHINING CONTROL SYSTEM

ABSTRACT PID controller of servo control system maintains the gap between Electrode and workpiece in Electrical Dis- charge Machining (EDM). Capability of the controller is significant since machining process is a stochastic phenomenon and physical behaviour of the discharge is unpredictable. Therefore, a Proportional Integral Derivative (PID) controller using Differential Evolution (DE) algorithm is designed and applied to an EDM servo actuator system in order to find suitable gain parameters. Simulation results verify the capabilities and effectiveness of the DE algorithm to search the best configuration of PID gain to maintain the electrode position. Keywords: servo control system; electrical discharge machining; proportional integral derivative; con- troller tuning; differential evolution