scholarly journals Multi-objective topology optimization of pin-fin heat exchangers using spectral and finite-element methods

Author(s):  
Ali Ghasemi ◽  
Ali Elham

AbstractForced convective pin-fin heat exchangers, due to the high wet surface area per volume and the hindered thermal boundary layers, feature low thermal resistances. However, the considerable coolant pressure drop, particularly for densely packed fin arrays, imposes operational costs for pumping power supply. This paper develops a multi-objective topology optimization approach to optimize sink geometries in order to minimize thermal resistance and pressure loss, concurrently. In accordance to the pin-fin geometrical characteristics, a dedicated pseudo-3D conjugate heat transfer model is utilized, by assuming periodic flow and fin design pattern, to reasonably reduce the high cost of full-3D model optimization. For the solution of flow part, a pseudo-spectral scheme is used, which is intrinsically periodic and features a high spectral accuracy, and the finite element method for the non-periodic conjugate heat transfer model. Exact partial derivatives of the discrete solutions are obtained analytically by hand-differentiation. This task is rather convenient for the flow part, due to the simplicity of the pseudo-spectral implementation; however, the MATLAB symbolic toolbox is selectively utilized for the finite element code to ensure an error-free implementation. Finally, the sensitivities are computed directly or via a discrete adjoint method, for the flow and heat models, respectively. To examine the present approach, two approaches are used for optimization of a practical cooling task: constrained and unconstrained multi-objective formulations, where in all cases more emphasis is placed on thermal resistance minimization. A series of optimized heat sink geometries via constrained or unconstrained multi-objective optimizations are obtained to examine practical utility of the present approach. The optimized topologies demonstrated superior cooling performances at lower costs of pressure losses compared to conventional (circular) in-line and staggered fins, and confirmed the supremacy of topology over pure sizing optimization.

Fluids ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 25
Author(s):  
Iris Gerken ◽  
Thomas Wetzel ◽  
Jürgen J. Brandner

Micro heat exchangers have been revealed to be efficient devices for improved heat transfer due to short heat transfer distances and increased surface-to-volume ratios. Further augmentation of the heat transfer behaviour within microstructured devices can be achieved with heat transfer enhancement techniques, and more precisely for this study, with passive enhancement techniques. Pin fin geometries influence the flow path and, therefore, were chosen as the option for further improvement of the heat transfer performance. The augmentation of heat transfer with micro heat exchangers was performed with the consideration of an improved heat transfer behaviour, and with additional pressure losses due to the change of flow path (pin fin geometries). To capture the impact of the heat transfer, as well as the impact of additional pressure losses, an assessment method should be considered. The overall exergy loss method can be applied to micro heat exchangers, and serves as a simple assessment for characterization. Experimental investigations with micro heat exchanger structures were performed to evaluate the assessment method and its importance. The heat transfer enhancement was experimentally investigated with microstructured pin fin geometries to understand the impact on pressure loss behaviour with air.


2021 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 2247-2256
Author(s):  
Martin Denk ◽  
Klemens Rother ◽  
Mario Zinßer ◽  
Christoph Petroll ◽  
Kristin Paetzold

AbstractTopology optimization is typically used for suitable design suggestions for objectives like mean compliance, mean temperature, or model analysis. Some modern modeling technics in topology optimization require a nodal based material interpolation. Therefore this article is referred to a continuous material interpolation in topology optimization. To cover a smooth and differentiable density field, we address trigonometric shape functions which are infinitely differentiable. Furthermore, we extend a so-known global criteria method with a sharpening function based on binary cross-entropy, so that sharper solutions results. The proposed material interpolation is applied to different applications such as heat transfer, elasto static, and potential flow. Furthermore, these different objectives are together optimized using a multi-objective criterion.


2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Naveen Janjanam ◽  
Rajesh Nimmagadda ◽  
Lazarus Godson Asirvatham ◽  
R. Harish ◽  
Somchai Wongwises

AbstractTwo-dimensional conjugate heat transfer performance of stepped lid-driven cavity was numerically investigated in the present study under forced and mixed convection in laminar regime. Pure water and Aluminium oxide (Al2O3)/water nanofluid with three different nanoparticle volume concentrations were considered. All the numerical simulations were performed in ANSYS FLUENT using homogeneous heat transfer model for Reynolds number, Re = 100 to 500 and Grashof number, Gr = 5000, 13,000 and 20,000. Effective thermal conductivity of the Al2O3/water nanofluid was evaluated by considering the Brownian motion of nanoparticles which results in 20.56% higher value for 3 vol.% Al2O3/water nanofluid in comparison with the lowest thermal conductivity value obtained in the present study. A solid region made up of silicon is present underneath the fluid region of the cavity in three geometrical configurations (forward step, backward step and no step) which results in conjugate heat transfer. For higher Re values (Re = 500), no much difference in the average Nusselt number (Nuavg) is observed between forced and mixed convection. Whereas, for Re = 100 and Gr = 20,000, Nuavg value of mixed convection is 24% higher than that of forced convection. Out of all the three configurations, at Re = 100, forward step with mixed convection results in higher heat transfer performance as the obtained interface temperature is lower than all other cases. Moreover, at Re = 500, 3 vol.% Al2O3/water nanofluid enhances the heat transfer performance by 23.63% in comparison with pure water for mixed convection with Gr = 20,000 in forward step.


2014 ◽  
Vol 24 (8) ◽  
pp. 1888-1905 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.M. Rahman ◽  
Hakan Oztop ◽  
S. Mekhilef ◽  
R. Saidur ◽  
A. Chamkha ◽  
...  

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of thick wall parameters of a cavity on combined convection in a channel. In other words, conjugate heat transfer is solved. Design/methodology/approach – Galerkin weighted residual finite element method is used to solve the governing equations of mixed convection. Findings – The streamlines, isotherms, local and average Nusselt numbers are obtained and presented for different parameters. It is found heat transfer is an increasing function of dimensionless thermal conductivity ratio. Originality/value – The literature does not have mixed convection and conjugate heat transfer problem in a channel with thick walled cavity.


1989 ◽  
Vol 111 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Zebib ◽  
Y. K. Wo

Thermal analysis of forced air cooling of an electronic component is modeled as a two-dimensional conjugate heat transfer problem. The velocity field in a constricted channel is first computed. Then, for a typical electronic module, the energy equation is solved with allowance for discontinuities in the thermal conductivity. Variation of the maximum temperature with the average air velocity is presented. The importance of our approach in evaluating possible benefits due to changes in component design and the limitations of the two-dimensional model are discussed.


Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 1762 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhe Wang ◽  
Fenghui Han ◽  
Yulong Ji ◽  
Wenhua Li

A marine seawater source heat pump is based on the relatively stable temperature of seawater, and uses it as the system’s cold and heat source to provide the ship with the necessary cold and heat energy. This technology is one of the important solutions to reduce ship energy consumption. Therefore, in this paper, the heat exchanger in the CO2 heat pump system with graphene nano-fluid refrigerant is experimentally studied, and the influence of related factors on its heat transfer enhancement performance is analyzed. First, the paper describes the transformation of the heat pump system experimental bench, the preparation of six different mass concentrations (0~1 wt.%) of graphene nanofluid and its thermophysical properties. Secondly, this paper defines graphene nanofluids as beneficiary fluids, the heat exchanger gains cold fluid heat exergy increase, and the consumption of hot fluid heat is heat exergy decrease. Based on the heat transfer efficiency and exergy efficiency of the heat exchanger, an exergy transfer model was established for a seawater source of tube heat exchanger. Finally, the article carried out a test of enhanced heat transfer of heat exchangers with different concentrations of graphene nanofluid refrigerants under simulated seawater constant temperature conditions and analyzed the test results using energy and an exergy transfer model. The results show that the enhanced heat transfer effect brought by the low concentration (0~0.1 wt.%) of graphene nanofluid is greater than the effect of its viscosity on the performance and has a good exergy transfer effectiveness. When the concentration of graphene nanofluid is too high, the resistance caused by the increase in viscosity will exceed the enhanced heat transfer gain brought by the nanofluid, which results in a significant decrease in the exergy transfer effectiveness.


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