Stiffener Layout Optimization of Inlet Structure for Electrostatic Precipitator by Improved Adaptive Growth Method

Abstract

The inlet structure is the main part of an electrostatic precipitator, so its mechanical properties, including the static strength, stiffness, and vibration characteristics, play an important role in the structural safety. In order to achieve good mechanical performance and lightweight of the inlet structure, an optimal design method, which is based on growth mechanism of the branching systems in nature and optimality criteria, named the improved adaptive growth method, is suggested. The method is applied to optimize the stiffener layout of the inlet structure, and the multiobjective optimization mathematical model which consists of the minimum compliance and the maximum natural frequency is considered. The optimality criteria method is applied to solve the design problem. The design result shows that the suggested method is effective, compared with the empirical design of the inlet structure, the weight of the optimal structure is reduced by 3.0%, while the global stiffness and the first natural frequency are increased by 18.83% and 4.66%, respectively.