Synthesis of RTD models VIA stochastic procedures: simulated annealing andgenetic algorithm

The general strategy adopted in the development of a computational tool per forming structural and parametric identifications of models based on the re sidence time distribution (RTD) theory is exposed. After a brief presentati on of the global methodology, the main aspect of the procedure constituted by the master problem performing the structural identification is detailed. This problem of discrimination of the various schemes is solved by two sto chastic procedures based on Simulated Annealing (SA) algorithm or on Geneti c Algorithm (GA). The implementation of the last algorithm is exposed. An i ndustrial approach with experimental data is proposed for the qualification step and for the description and quantification of air flows patterns and the associated pollutant transfers observed in ventilated indoor spaces, an d particularly in nuclear ventilation networks. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science L td. All rights reserved.