Design of fin-and-tube heat exchangers guided by topology optimization using simplified model

Abstract

This paper presents a design approach for fin-and-tube heat exchangers, which deal with complex physical phenomena. In this study, the shape, arrangement, and number of the protuberances on the fin are designed from topology optimization using a simplified model. Although the simplified model incorporates the key factors of the heat exchange performance, the physical phenomena in the simplified model cannot be completely matched with that in the high-fidelity model. Therefore, a variety of design candidates are generated by the optimization on various parameters, and then the satisfactory solution is led from these candidates by the high-fidelity analysis. A manufacturable fin is designed from the satisfactory solution, and it shows better heat exchange performance compared to reference fins.