Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Two Dimensional Topology Optimization of Heat Exchangers with the Density and Level-Set Methods

Journal Article · · WCCM-ECCOMAS Congress
 [1];  [1];  [1]
  1. Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)

We design heat exchangers using two topology optimization approaches: the density, i.e. volume fraction and level set methods. Our goal is to maximize the heat exchange between two fluids in separate channels while constraining the pressure drop across each channel. The heat exchanger is modeled with a coupled thermal-flow formulation. The flow is governed by an isothermal and incompressible Stokes-Brinkman equation and the heat transfer is governed by a convection-diffusion equation with high Peclet number. We solve one set of Stokes-Brinkman equations per fluid. Each Brinkman term in the flow equation serves to model the other phase as a solid, thereby preventing mixing. We first represent the solid and fluid phases using a volume fraction variable and apply a SIMP-like penalization in the Brinkman term to drive the optimization to a discrete design. The cost and constraint function derivatives are automatically calculated with the library pyadjoint and the optimization is performed by the Method of Moving Asymptotes. In a second optimization formulation, we use the level set approach to define the interface that separates the two fluids. Pyadjoint calculates the shape derivatives of the cost and constraint functions and the Hamilton-Jacobi advects the interface, allowing for topological changes. We present results in two dimensions and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each approach.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC52-07NA27344
OSTI ID:
1781297
Report Number(s):
LLNL-JRNL--816310; 1025958
Journal Information:
WCCM-ECCOMAS Congress, Journal Name: WCCM-ECCOMAS Congress Vol. 1300; ISSN 2696-6999
Publisher:
Scipedia, S.L.Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

Similar Records

Two dimensional topology optimization of heat exchangers with the volume fraction method
Software · Mon Jul 20 20:00:00 EDT 2020 · OSTI ID:code-50711

On the Dynamic Programming Approach for the 3D Navier-Stokes Equations
Journal Article · Sun Jun 15 00:00:00 EDT 2008 · Applied Mathematics and Optimization · OSTI ID:21242047

Topology optimization of additively manufactured fluidic components free of internal support structures
Journal Article · Sun Nov 28 23:00:00 EST 2021 · Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering · OSTI ID:1976971