Improved genetic algorithm for optimal design of transverse flux inductor

A procedure is presented for optimal design of transverse flux inductor. To improve the convergence speed and local searching ability for genetic algorithm, subpopulation competition and data exchange method is proposed. One purpose of that is for basic population to decide when to produce a new subpopulation; the other purpose is to introduce quality individuals from subpopulation into basic population. For the electromagnetic-thermal problems, a coupling procedure is presented to reduce the time consuming. The produced heat source in the strip was supposed to move in elements in the opposite direction of the actually continuously moving strip for transverse flux induction heating (TFIH), thus every temperature field computation could take advantage of the heat source distribution resulted from the former eddy current field calculation, which led to the time for numerical simulation of TFIH reduced