Direct sequential based firefly algorithm for the α-pinene isomerization problem

Abstract

The problem herein addressed is a parameter estimation problem of the α-pinene process. The state variables of this bioengineering process satisfy a set of differential equations and depend on a set of unknown parameters. A dynamic system based parameter estimation problem aiming to estimate the model parameter values in a way that the predicted state variables best fit the experimentally observed state values is used. A numerical direct method, known as direct sequential procedure, is implemented giving rise to a finite bound constrained nonlinear optimization problem, which is solved by the metaheuristic firefly algorithm (FA). A Matlab programming environment is developed with the mathematical model and the computational application of the method. The results produced by FA, when compared to those of the fmincon function and other metaheuristics, are competitive.