Modeling a Heat Exchanger with Triply Periodic Minimal Surfaces (TPMS) (ABP)

This Application Best Practice demonstrates how to model and simulate heat exchangers using Triply Periodic Minimal Surface (TPMS) structures in Ansys Fluent® fluid simulation software, leveraging their unique geometry for enhanced thermal performance. TPMS-based heat exchangers offer high surface-to-volume ratios, efficient heat transfer, and reduced pressure drop, making them ideal for compact, high-performance applications in aerospace, automotive, and electronics.

Learning Outcomes:

After completing this course, participants will be able to:

1. Explain the fundamentals and benefits of TPMS geometries for heat exchanger applications.
2. Create and prepare TPMS-based heat exchanger models using Ansys SpaceClaim® 3D computer-aided design (CAD) modelling software.
3. Generate high-quality meshes for complex TPMS geometries using Fluent Meshing's Fault-Tolerant Method.
4. Set up and run conjugate heat transfer simulations in Ansys Fluent, including boundary conditions and solver settings.
5. Analyze heat transfer, pressure drop, and flow performance results to evaluate TPMS heat exchanger designs.

Prerequisites:

• Ansys Fluent Getting Started: Basics
• Introduction to Ansys SpaceClaim
• Ansys Fluent Meshing

Please note: These training materials were developed and tested in the 2022R2 release.