A Multi-Objective Optimization Framework That Incorporates Interpretable CatBoost and Modified Slime Mould Algorithm to Resolve Boiler Combustion Optimization Problem

The combustion optimization problem of the circulation fluidized bed boiler is regarded as a difficult multi-objective optimization problem that requires simultaneously improving the boiler thermal efficiency and reducing the NOx emissions concentration. In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, a new multi-objective optimization framework that incorporates an interpretable CatBoost model and modified slime mould algorithm is proposed. Firstly, the interpretable CatBoost model combined with TreeSHAP is applied to model the boiler thermal efficiency and NOx emissions concentration. Simultaneously, data correlation analysis is conducted based on the established models. Finally, a kind of modified slime mould algorithm is proposed and used to optimize the adjustable operation parameters of one 330 MW circulation fluidized bed boiler. The experimental results show that the proposed framework can effectively improve the boiler thermal efficiency and reduce the NOx emissions concentration, where the average optimization ratio for thermal efficiency reaches +0.68%, the average optimization ratio for NOx emission concentration reaches −37.55%, and the average optimization time is 6.40 s. In addition, the superiority of the proposed method is demonstrated by ten benchmark testing functions and two constrained optimization problems. Therefore, the proposed framework is an effective artificial intelligence approach for the modeling and optimization of complex systems.