In this paper, a new optimization method coupling genetic algorithm (GA) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) based on Windows Socket was found to optimize the configurations of porous insert in a tube for heat transfer enhancement. The region in the enhanced tube was divided into several layers in the radial direction. The porosity of porous media filled in each layer was the design variable, which varies from 0.5 to 1.0. The results show that the thermo-hydraulic performance of the enhanced tube can be improved effectively by using the optimized porous insert, particularly using the optimized multiple layers of porous insert. However, there is an appropriate layer number of porous insert to ensure the optimal performance of the enhanced tube for a given set of parameters. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.