Sept. 26, 2013: New Rooftop A/C Unit Design ‘Evolves’ in NIST Study
Computer Model Used with Algorithm That Mimics the Laws of Evolution
GAITHERSBURG, Md. — Played out on a computer over hundreds of generations, a survival-of-the-fittest programming method adapted by National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) researchers has created a design for a more efficient rooftop air conditioning system.
The evolutionary tack optimized the snaking arrangement of cooling tubes in the rooftop unit’s heat exchanger. The unit’s U.S. manufacturer subsequently implemented the changes as a prototype for NIST. The computer-generated design yielded a 3 percent gain in overall performance, confirming the results of prior analysis by NIST researchers.