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The METHOD project

My work on optimization techniques for high computing load, continuous function without derivatives available is financed by the LTR European project METHOD (METHOD stands for Achievement Of Maximum Efficiency For Process Centrifugal Compressors THrough New Techniques Of Design). The goal of this project is to optimize the shape of the blades inside a Centrifugal Compressor (see the figure 11.1 for an illustration of the blades of the compressor).

Figure 11.1: Illustration of the blades of the compressor
\begin{figure}
\centering\epsfig{figure=figures/turbine1.eps, width=7cm,
heigh...
....5cm} \epsfig{figure=figures/turbine2.eps,
width=7cm, height=6cm}
\end{figure}

The shape of the blades is described by 31 parameters. The objective function is computed in the following way: We simply have an objective function which takes as input a vector of 31 parameters and gives as output the associated quality. We want to maximize this function. This objective function has been implemented by the Energetics Department ``Sergio Stecco'' of the ''Università degli Studi di Firenze'' (DEF). For more information, see [PMM$^+$03].

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Frank Vanden Berghen 2004-04-19