Heat sink evolutionary optimization by natural construction method

Abstract

In the present study, a new optimization method called natural construction (NC) method was presented. This method was inspired by constructal law and it is an effort to extend this theorem by eliminating its predefined constraints. The proposed NC method was implemented on evolutionary optimization of embedded high conductive continuous strips in a cold plate to cool a uniformly heat-generating surface. These strips guide the generated heat to a localized constant temperature heat sink. The proposed method is a straightforward approach with a low computational cost which works based on gradual growth of the constructal cells and unlike the majority of optimization methods, does not need any special assumption about the initial shape of strips configuration or constructal cell size. Moreover, since in this method constructal cells are added gradually, the effect of each element on maximum or mean temperature can be assessed at each step while the proper amount of required area fraction of high conductive material will be evaluated accordingly. The NC method is a general constraint-free optimization method that can apply to a wide variety of engineering problems and will be very useful in different disciplines.