Global optimization of ordinary differential equations models

Abstract This paper contains a study of the global optimization of mathematical models described by ordinary differential equations. It is shown that recently developed terrain methods can be used with direct numerical integration to find minima, saddle points and other important problem solving information for ordinary differential equations models. Necessary partial derivative information can be computed as a by-product of the integration. A parameter estimation example for a power law rate model for hydrogen production in fuel cell applications is used to illustrate the optimization methodology.