Journal of Applied Mathematics (Jan 2013)

A Hybrid Multiobjective Differential Evolution Algorithm and Its Application to the Optimization of Grinding and Classification

  • Yalin Wang,
  • Xiaofang Chen,
  • Weihua Gui,
  • Chunhua Yang,
  • Lou Caccetta,
  • Honglei Xu

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/841780
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 2013

Abstract

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The grinding-classification is the prerequisite process for full recovery of the nonrenewable minerals with both production quality and quantity objectives concerned. Its natural formulation is a constrained multiobjective optimization problem of complex expression since the process is composed of one grinding machine and two classification machines. In this paper, a hybrid differential evolution (DE) algorithm with multi-population is proposed. Some infeasible solutions with better performance are allowed to be saved, and they participate randomly in the evolution. In order to exploit the meaningful infeasible solutions, a functionally partitioned multi-population mechanism is designed to find an optimal solution from all possible directions. Meanwhile, a simplex method for local search is inserted into the evolution process to enhance the searching strategy in the optimization process. Simulation results from the test of some benchmark problems indicate that the proposed algorithm tends to converge quickly and effectively to the Pareto frontier with better distribution. Finally, the proposed algorithm is applied to solve a multiobjective optimization model of a grinding and classification process. Based on the technique for order performance by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS), the satisfactory solution is obtained by using a decision-making method for multiple attributes.