Coupling genetic algorithm with a grid search method to solve mixed integer nonlinear programming problems

AbstractA new hybrid algorithm is being introduced for solving Mixed Integer Nonlinear Programming (minlp) problems which arise from study of many real-life engineering problems such as the minimum cost development of oil fields and the optimization of a multiproduct batch plant. This new algorithm employs both the Genetic Algorithm and a modified grid search method interfacing in such a way that the resulting hybrid algorithm is capable of solving many minlp problems efficiently and accurately. Testings indicate that this algorithm is efficient and robust even for some ill-conditioned problems with nonconvex constraints