Application of genetic algorithm for determination of mass transfer coefficients

The mass transfer coefficient, k(d), surface reaction constant, k(r), and r eaction rate order, r, have been calculated by applying the genetic algorit hm analysis. This analysis provides the parameter estimations as new data a re recorded and consequently yields the time variability of the parameters. In this study, the application of the genetic algorithm procedure is prese nted for determining the coefficients and their relative standard deviation . The relative standard deviation does not exceed 0.9% taking into account the crystal growth rate, R-g calculated from the equation R-g = k(r)(Delta C - R-g/k(d))(r) and the one experimentally obtained and represented by the equation R-g = k(g)(Delta C)(g), where k(r) is the rate constant for the s urface reaction, ii,, is the mass transfer coefficient, I is the reaction o rder, ii, is the overall crystal growth rate constant, Delta C is the super saturation and g is the overall crystal growth rate order. This new propose d method is compared with the previous methods for the cases of growth of N iSO4 and CuSO4 . 5H(2)O crystals in a fluidized bed crystallizer. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.