Multi-objective optimization of two stage thermoelectric cooler using a modified teaching-learning-based optimization algorithm

Teaching-learning-based optimization (TLBO) is a recently developed heuristic algorithm based on the natural phenomenon of teaching-learning process. In the present work, a modified version of the TLBO algorithm is introduced and applied for the multi-objective optimization of a two stage thermoelectric cooler (TEC). Two different arrangements of the thermoelectric cooler are considered for the optimization. Maximization of cooling capacity and coefficient of performance of the thermoelectric cooler are considered as the objective functions. An example is presented to demonstrate the effectiveness and accuracy of the proposed algorithm. The results of optimization obtained by using the modified TLBO are validated by comparing with those obtained by using the basic TLBO, genetic algorithm (GA), particle swarm optimization (PSO) and artificial bee colony (ABC) algorithms. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.