Optimizing operating conditions based on ANN and modified GAs

In this paper, an effective method based on artificial neural networks (ANN ) and genetic algorithms (GAs) was Suggested for modeling the process with unknown or complex mechanisms and optimizing its operating conditions conse cutively. Furthermore a modified GA (MGA) with adaptive mutation range was proposed to search the optimal location more quickly. The satisfactory resu lts of this investigation demonstrated the feasibility and effectiveness of the suggested method, and particularly showed that MGA could find the opti mal values more quickly than the conventional GAs. (C) 2000 Elsevier Scienc e Ltd. All rights reserved.