Inlet Channel Research Articles

Two-phase analysis of heat transfer of nanofluid flow in a wavy channel heat exchanger: A numerical approach

The heat transfer improvement by using CuO/water nanofluid (NF) in a wavy channel is evaluated numerically using the turbulent two-phase mixture and the κ - ε models. The numerical work is a 2-dimensional model created and analyzed in Gambit and Ansys Fluent software, respectively. The flow Reynolds (Re) numbers of 8000 – 40,000, wavelength ranging from 0 – 0.4 m, and solid volume fraction (SVF) of 0 % to 4 % are investigated. In all cases, a constant heat flux of q′′=5000 W/m2 is applied on the outer surface of the heat exchanger. The heat transfer and fluid flow were analyzed by the flow visualization method and heat transfer evaluation indexes. The results show that by increasing the Re number, the vortices increase and more turbulence are generated in the vicinity of the waves near the channel inlet. As the amplitude of the channel waves increased, the velocity at the top of the wave increased, and the resulting pressure gradient behind the wave is intensified and the reverse flow is generated. The improving effect of using NF is more prominent where the effect of other enhancing factors is weak. For wall amplitude of 0.1 m, by increasing the SVF from 1 – 4 % the average Nu number (Nuavg) increased by 35 % and 22 % in Re = 8,000 and 40,000, respectively.

A model reduction framework of flow maldistribution and mitigation strategy for parallel flow field based polymer exchange membrane fuel cell

Mitigating flow maldistribution plays a crucial role in next-generation industry-used parallel-based flow field design for polymer exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), especially for larger-size cells and higher current density. In this study, a model reduction framework is proposed to alleviate flow maldistribution among parallel gas flow channels and associated computational burden. The gas flow features and electrochemical kinetics of four mitigation strategies including expanded manifold, partially porous media, dot matrix, and partially narrow structures are investigated in detail. The results indicate that the fuel cell model and a fluid flow model without the reactions show similar maldistribution features among parallel channels. The observed flow maldistribution can be effectively reduced by mitigating designs. Expanding the manifold space significantly alleviates the vortex impeding the gas entry to individual channel inlet, and the inlet exhibits better flow uniformity and pressure drop in the direction perpendicular to the channel than in the parallel to. The fully-inserted and manifold-inserted porous media methods present symmetrical quadratic-shaped flow patterns among channels, while that of the partially-inserted porous media inside channels is unsymmetrical. Additionally, the concentration loss with a partially narrowed design decreases by 44.7%, 12.9%, and 24.2% compared with the expanded manifold, partial porous media, and dot matrix designs at 1.8 A cm−2 owing to better flow uniformity and mass transport. These model framework and mitigation strategies are valuable for designing future high-performance industrial PEMFCs.

Undesired flows in lateral-intake multiple forebays and their hydraulic implications: case study for Asia’s largest urban water supply pumping station

Urban pumping stations often adopt the design of lateral-intake multiple forebays to accommodate multiple pump units in a limited space and to reduce interaction between the operating units. However, a full understanding of the undesired flows and hydraulic characteristics of lateral-intake multiple forebays remains limited, resulting in the design of flow-regulating measures relying on trial and error. This study numerically investigated the undesired flows in lateral-intake multiple forebays and their hydraulic implications, using Asia’s largest urban water supply pumping station as a case study. The results show that the undesired flows, including flow recirculation, helical mainstream and vortex strip, are the main reasons for the deterioration of hydraulic characteristics in the forebays. The undesired flows are more pronounced at higher inflow Froude numbers or for the forebay closer to the diversion channel inlet, resulting in lower flow uniformity and higher hydraulic loss. Further discussion shows that the flow-regulating measures improve the hydraulic characteristics by limiting the generation and development of undesired flows within the forebays. This provides references for the design of flow-regulating measures for similar forebays to reduce the cost of trial and error, which is of general value for the lateral-intake multiple forebays required for urban pumping stations.

A novel simplified simulation method for the precooler based on the virtual source term: modeling, validation and application

Precooling technology is one of the promising approaches for expanding the flight envelope of conventional turbine engines and enhancing flight performance at high Mach numbers. Within this domain, a crucial challenge is to rapidly and accurately obtain the flow and heat transfer characteristics of the precooler. Currently, full-size simulation of the precooler is impractical, while simplified and fast simulation methods employed in previous research have exhibited certain deficiencies, including excessive simplification and unconvincing validation. In this study, a novel simplified simulation method for the annular precooler based on the virtual source term model was proposed. This method comprehensively considered the axial and radial non-uniformity of airflow caused by the coupling effect between the precooler and the inlet channel in the actual flow field. Subsequently, systematic validations of the reliability and superiority of this method were conducted, along with its application in the overall performance calculation of the precooled engine. The results demonstrate that the simplified method proposed in this paper showcases higher accuracy than the methods employed in previous research. Compared with the real model, the relative errors of the overall parameters are within ± 1 %, and the relative errors of the distortion indices for total temperature and total pressure are 5.1 % and −1.5 %, respectively. Meanwhile, the number of computational mesh cells is reduced by more than 95 %. Moreover, the first application of the simplified method in the overall performance calculation of the precooled engine reveals that the traditional low-dimensional model underestimates both the total pressure loss of the precooler and the fuel consumption for precooling, resulting in larger calculation deviations in the thrust and equivalence ratio, respectively. The values of thrust calculated with the high-dimensional virtual model show an average decrease of 2.01 % compared to those derived from the low-dimensional model. In addition, a higher Mach number results in lower effectiveness, higher air inlet temperature, and reduced resistance of the precooler to heat exchange imbalance caused by flow non-uniformity. These factors lead to an escalating relative deviation of the equivalence ratio between the two models, reaching 26.45 % at Mach 5.

Parametric study on the influence of varying angled inlet channels on mixing performance in simple T micromixers and vortex T micromixers across a wide range of Reynolds numbers

Parametric study on the influence of varying angled inlet channels on mixing performance in simple T micromixers and vortex T micromixers across a wide range of Reynolds numbers

Experimental study on a dual synthetic jets liquid cooling device

To address the growing heat dissipation requirements of high heat flux electronic devices, this work presents experimental research on a dual synthetic jets (DSJ) liquid cooling device. The effects of different heat flux, channel inlet flow rates, driving frequencies, and other parameters on the device ability have been explored. The experimental results indicate that the wall temperature increases by increasing the heat flux. Raising the channel inlet flow rate will reduce wall temperature. When DSJ is off, increasing the inlet flow rate from 0.16 L/min to 0.40 L/min results in a maximum temperature decrease of 6.30 °C and a pressure drop increase of 2.20 kPa. There is essentially no change in the pressure drop when DSJ is operating. When the inlet flow rate is 0.16 L/min, the maximum wall temperature at DSJ on is reduced by 6.83 °C compared with DSJ off. The convective heat transfer coefficient was raised by 40.55%. The vibrating diaphragm exhibits better low-frequency characteristics when working underwater. The convective heat transfer coefficient increases by 36.46% when the driving frequency is 20 Hz. Increasing the driving voltage, the device cooling performance increased. By increasing the driving voltage to 240 V, the wall temperature decreased by 6.30 °C, a decrease of 13.82%, and the convective heat transfer coefficient raised by 28.51%. The device overall performance increased by a maximum of 39.55% after DSJ on compared with DSJ off.

Research on erosion wear law of four-way flow channel of wellhead fracturing in ultra-deep wells

Abstract This paper establishes a 1/2 three-dimensional finite element model that considers multiple factors affecting the erosion rate of the four-way fracturing structure on site. The model can simulate the effects of different inlet velocities, dynamic viscosities, outlet quantities, outlet pressures, and channel wall angles on the velocity and streamline distribution of the four-way channel. It is also possible to analyze the effects of different factors such as inlet velocity, sand carrying mass flow rate, inlet quantity, fluid dynamic viscosity, fracturing fluid particle density, fracturing fluid particle diameter, four-way wall hardness, and channel wall inclination angle on the erosion of the inner wall. Through the established model calculation, it was found that as the inlet flow velocity increases, the maximum flow velocity in the channel also increases, and the value is close to 1.8 times the inlet velocity, with the maximum value appearing at the inlet corner. When the inlet velocity of the four-way valve is low, a significant vortex-like flow field appears in the closed flow channel of the four-way valve, which will lead to the accumulation of particles in the fracturing fluid. The calculation shows that the number and velocity of sand containing fracturing fluid inlets have the greatest impact on the erosion rate of the four-way flow channel, and the optimal inclination angle of the flow channel is 9 degrees. Increasing the hardness of the four-way wall can improve the maximum erosion rate of the flow channel wall, but changing the sand particle density and diameter has little significance in reducing the erosion rate of the four-way flow channel. It is recommended to perform corresponding heat treatment on the inner wall of the four-way valve to reduce the impact of sand containing fracturing fluid on wall erosion. This article provides a theoretical basis and guidance for controlling or avoiding erosion and thinning failure of four-way valves and also provides a theoretical basis for the design of wellhead four-way valves and various safe construction operations.

Numerical Study of Coolant Flow Phenomena and Heat Transfer at the Cutting-Edge of Twist Drill

Cutting tool coolant channels play a pivotal role in machining processes, facilitating the efficient supply of cooling agents to high-stress areas and effective heat dissipation. Achieving optimal cooling at the tool’s cutting-edge is essential for enhancing production processes. Experimental investigations into tribological stress analysis can be limited in accessing complex tool–workpiece contact zones, prompting the use of numerical modelling to explore fluid dynamics and tribology. In this study, the coolant flow dynamics and heat dissipation in drilling operations were comprehensively investigated through computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modelling. Four twist drill models with varying coolant channel arrangements were studied: standard model drill, standard model drill with notch, profile model drill, and profile model drill with notch. Two distinct approaches are applied to the coolant inlet to assess the impact of operating conditions on fluid flow and heat dissipation at the cutting-edge. The findings emphasize that cutting-edge zones have insufficient coolant supply, particularly in modified drill models such as the standard model drill with notch and profile model drills with and without notch. Moreover, enhanced coolant supply at the cutting-edge is achieved under high-pressure inlet conditions. The standard model drill with a notch exhibited exceptional performance in reducing thermal load, facilitating efficient coolant escape to the flute for improved heat dissipation at the cutting-edge. Despite challenges like dead zones in profile models, the standard-with-notch model yielded the most promising results. Further analyses under constant pressure conditions at 40 and 60 bar exhibited enhanced fluid flow rates, particularly at the cutting-edge, leading to improved heat dissipation. The temperature distribution along the cutting-edge and outer corner demonstrated a decrease as the pressure increased. This study underscores the critical role of both coolant channel design and inlet pressure in optimizing coolant flow dynamics and heat transfer during drilling operations. The findings provide valuable insights for designing and enhancing coolant systems in machining processes, emphasizing the significance of not only coolant channel geometry but also inlet pressure for effective heat dissipation and enhanced tool performance.

Study on flow regimes and mixing of vortex-inducing T-jet reactors with staggered inlet channel

Improving the jet reactor's mixing performance is critical and challenging. In this paper, a new type of vortex-inducing T-jet reactor proposed by researchers is studied. By designing the staggered inlet structure of the T-jet reactor, the vortex is induced in the flow field in the mixing channel to improve the mixing effect. Flow regimes and mixing characteristics in the vortex-inducing T-jet reactor were investigated through numerical simulations (CFD) at 30 ≤ Re ≤ 600. Results show that the staggered inlet channel induces vortices successfully, and the engulfment flow regime occurs at lower Reynolds numbers, thus promoting the mixing. The generation and evolution of vortex structures in the reactor were focused on. It was found that in the unsteady engulfment flow, the two fluids cross each other, which makes the vortex structure constantly twist and merge, which greatly improves the mixing effect. At larger Reynolds numbers, many attached small vortices are generated around the central vortex structure, and these vortices are wound together with the high-speed rotation of the central vortex, avoiding the unsteady symmetric flow pattern with a poor mixing effect. Finally, it is found that the mixing performance of the vortex-inducing T-jet reactor is greatly improved under all regimes.

A novel tree -like bionic structure for liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery plates

To maintain the optimal operating temperature range for the power batteries of new energy vehicles, this paper proposes a novel tree-structured channel cold plate. An orthogonal experimental approach was employed to investigate the effects of inlet flow rate m, inlet channel quantity n, channel width d, and hierarchy ratio α on battery temperatures Tmax, standard temperature difference Tσ, and pressure drop ΔP. Non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II (NSGA-II) was utilized to obtain an optimized solution set. The results reveal that the tree-like cold plate configuration including m = 15 g/s, n = 7 and 8, d = 3 mm, and α = 1:2:1 demonstrates superior performance. Thus, the developed cold plate was further compared with the conventional straight-through cold plate design. The results indicate that the proposed tree-like cold plate exhibits the maximum decreases of 13.94% in Tmax, 52.94% in Tσ, and 61.5% in ΔP. The most significant improvement in the composite indicator PEC was 89%. In conclusion, the tree-like channel cold plate developed in this study provides excellent heat dissipation capability for power batteries, offering valuable insights for the thermal design of battery liquid cooling systems.

Flow boiling of R32 and R410A inside brazed plate heat exchangers with different geometries

A proposed midterm substitute of R410A, mixture with 1924 GWP100 (Global Warming Potential over 100 years), is R32 (GWP100 = 677), which, although mildly flammable, is pure, relatively cheap, already available on the market, with different suppliers due to the absence of patents. Moreover, its thermo-physical properties are already well known. Increasingly stringent energy saving regulations are boosting the residential heat pump market, which typically requires reversible brazed plate heat exchangers to be used both as evaporators and condensers. This work reports an experimental analysis of the two refrigerants during flow boiling in brazed plate heat exchangers, varying the channel volumes. The number of plates of the heat exchangers ranges from 4 (1 refrigerant channel) to 120 (59 refrigerant channels in parallel). The heat transfer coefficient and the pressure drop have been measured for R410A and R32 at saturation temperature between 1.5 °C and 5.5 °C, outlet vapour superheating of 5 K, heat flux from 4 to 31 kW m−2, mass velocity from 8 to 87 kg m−2 s−1 and inlet channels vapour quality from 0.2 to 0.3. The number of plates affects the distribution of the liquid-vapour mixture in the channels and its effect is discussed by comparing the heat transfer coefficients. It is shown that the differences in performance between the two fluids increase with the mass velocity, suggesting the influence of a convective component on the heat transfer coefficient. This is further confirmed by comparing the data with the results of two different models from literature.

Trajectory analysis of circulating tumor cells through contorted deterministic lateral displacement array for unruptured trapping: a simulation study

During the multistage process of cancer spread, fragments of cells branch out from the primitive tumor tissue and scatter throughout the body by blood flow stream or lymph, which are termed as circulating tumor cells (CTCs), regarded as an important biomarker for early cancer diagnosis. Deterministic lateral displacement (DLD) is one of the most efficient passive type particle isolation techniques which functions on asymmetrical laminar flow diversion around the placed microposts forming an array, based on the critical dimeter of the device. In this simulation study, complete trajectory analysis of CTCs and WBCs has been performed using COMSOL Multiphysics software with respect to the angular orientation of sample inlet channel. A simulated model of an asymmetric DLD array-based microfluidic device with latest empirical expression for critical diameter has been presented with optimized sample inlet orientation so as to maintain perfect separation efficiency of CTCs along with arrangement for unruptured trapping of CTCs and WBCs. The approximate CTC isolation efficiency was obtained above 95% for sample inlet inclinations up to 0.5°, and further tilt showed reduction in efficiency. Migration angle of CTC trajectory for the modeled device was obtained around 15° for both the sample inlet orientations leading to least intermingling of CTCs and WBCs. A smaller number of CTC–WBC interaction points was observed for clockwise sample inlet tilt compared to the anticlockwise displacement reducing possibilities of cell rupture. The shear rate around central microposts was found to be higher as well in clockwise sample inlet orientation. This simulation study establishes that sample inlet clockwise tilting of maximum around 0.5°–0.7° leads to better CTC isolation and provides better chances of unruptured trapping of cells at the designated outlets. The results of this study provide an approach toward further optimization of DLD devices' functioning and, thus, could help fabricate better DLD-based microfluidic devices for efficient trapping of CTCs.

Investigation of direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD) performance using CFD and machine learning approaches

Direct Contact Membrane Distillation (DCMD) is emerging as an effective method for water desalination, known for its efficiency and adaptability. This study delves into the performance of DCMD by integrating two powerful analytical tools: Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and Artificial Neural Networks (ANN). The research thoroughly examines the impact of various factors, such as inlet temperatures, velocities, channel heights, salt concentration, and membrane characteristics, on the process's efficiency, specifically calculating the water vapor flux. A rigorous validation of the CFD model aligns well with established studies, ensuring reliability. Subsequently, over 1000 data points reflecting variations in input factors are utilized to train and validate the ANN. The training phase demonstrated high accuracy, with near-zero mean squared errors and R2 values close to one, indicating a strong predictive capability. Further analysis post-ANN training shed light on key relationships: higher membrane porosity boosts water vapor flux, whereas thicker membranes reduce it. Additionally, it was detailed how salt concentration, channel dimensions, inlet temperatures, and velocities significantly influence the distillation process. Finally, a mathematical model was proposed for water vapor flux as a function of key input factors. The results highlighted that salt mole fraction and hot water inlet temperature have the most effect on the water vapor flux. This comprehensive investigation contributes to the understanding of DCMD and emphasizes the potential of combining CFD and ANN for optimizing and innovating water desalination technology.

Aerodynamic tunnel for tests of turbine annular cascades

Aerodynamic test rigs are necessary for experimental testing of turbomachines and investigation of possible ways to improve machine performance. Existing installations give higher losses and do not work efficiently at off-design operating modes. An operating part with an adjustable radial diffuser was designed in order to determine the characteristics of turbine annular cascades. Experimental studies and computational verifications showed satisfactory results at various operating modes. The regulated backwall of the radial diffuser ensured supersonic velocity values behind the cascade and overall stable operation in a wide range of Mach numbers up to 1.3 when using compressors of comparatively small capacity. The optimum positions of the regulated backwall were determined, which provided a deep vacuum behind the cascade, as well as 1.5 times Mach number increase compared to the turbine cascade without a diffuser. Changing the inlet channel geometry at supersonic modes leads to an increase in the diffuser efficiency. Additionally, it was determined that the use of the turbine vane cascade in the test rig flow path is not necessary during calculation studies, but instead an axisymmetric vaneless converging area can be applied and give satisfactory results as well as reduce the time spent on calculations. The computational model can be used to optimize the design of an aerodynamic tunnel outlet area.

Energy Characteristics in the Flow Channel of the Shaft-Type Tubular Pumping Station Considering Tides

The shaft-type tubular pumping station has the remarkable characteristics of a large flow rate and high efficiency. It can realize the functions of irrigation, pumping, and drainage through pumping and generating conditions considering tides. Moreover, it is widely used in the plain area of eastern China and the tidal area along the marine region. Due to the different topological features of the airfoil of the impeller, the energy evolution characteristics of the shaft-type tubular pumping station during pumping and generating conditions remain unclear. The entropy generation theory was introduced to numerically simulate the flow pattern and energy characteristics in the shaft-type channel, impeller, and straight channel in operation conditions. The results show that the flow pattern is stable when the shaft-type channel and the straight-type channel are used as the inlet channel under pumping and generating conditions, and a low-pressure region occurs in the contraction section of the shaft-type channel. The velocity of sections of the inlet and outlet and the middle section of the impeller in the generating condition is larger than that in the pumping condition. In addition, the difference in the static pressure on the blade surface nearby the hub is large. With a change in the position of the wingspan, the difference gradually decreases from the small flow condition to the large flow condition. There is a high-entropy production rate zone in the channel contraction section and the shaft-type wall surface of the shaft-type flow channel. When the straight-type channel is used as the outlet flow channel, a high-entropy production region appears near the inlet water surface. In the pumping condition, a high-entropy production area is found at the inlet of the impeller, the blade groove channel, and the inlet of the guide vane. In the generating condition, a high-entropy production area is found at the out-of-impeller outlet, the blade groove channel, and the outlet of the guide vane. These research achievements have some reference value for the design of the shaft-type tubular pumping station considering tides and the study of hydraulic performance, along with the energy characteristics of the channels.

Influence of Partition Wall Length on Inlet Flow Regime of a Pumping Station Arranged in Parallel with a Sluice Gate

When a sluice gate is arranged in parallel with pumping station units, biased flow occurs in the forebay when the units are operating. The transverse flow velocity in front of the channel inlet is relatively high, and, in severe cases, it may lead to the formation of suction vortices, impacting the stable operation of pump units. Taking the Liushan Pumping Station project of the Eastern Route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project as a case study, this paper investigates the effect of the partition wall length on the inlet flow regime of pumping station units arranged in parallel with the sluice gate to reduce the transverse flow velocity in front of the channel inlet. Using numerical simulations, the inlet flow regimes for different partition wall lengths were compared. Moreover, the flow field distributions in the forebay under different operating conditions were analyzed alongside the transverse flow velocity in front of the channel inlet and the uniformity of flow velocity distribution in the section behind the channel inlet. Hydraulic model tests were then conducted to validate the simulation results. The results indicate that in the original design, there existed a vortex zone in the forebay in front of the inlet of the channel where the transverse flow was relatively high. However, the introduction of partition walls significantly reduced the transverse flow velocity in front of the inlet of the channel in the forebay. The optimal effect was achieved when the length of the partition wall was twice the width of the inlet channel. Furthermore, the uniformity of velocity distribution at the inlet of the channel increased by an average of 7.4%, leading to a substantial improvement in the inlet flow regime of the pumping station. The addition of partition walls in the forebay effectively resolved the issues related to the flow regime in the forebay, providing valuable references for similar engineering studies in the future.

Effects of channel structure at inlet region on temperature distribution of proton exchange membrane fuel cells

Enhancing the temperature distribution uniformity in membrane electrodes is crucial for improving the durability and performance stability of proton exchange membrane fuel cells. In this study, we discovered an entrance region in the cathode membrane electrode of proton exchange membrane fuel cells characterized by a rapid rise in temperature. This inlet region shows a notably higher temperature variation rate compared to other regions. This phenomenon is attributed to the temperature difference between the constant temperature fluid supplied by the channel inlet and the heat generation in the cathode catalyst layer. Thus, the impact of channel structure at the entrance region on the temperature distribution of the cathode catalyst layer is investigated, based on a three-dimensional, non-isothermal, two-phase model. Results show that boosting heat transfer in the inlet region is more effective for reducing the average temperature than in other regions. We proposed five kinds of step arrangement schemes and discovered that the step arrangement in the entrance region of the cathode flow channel can increase the temperature uniformity of the cathode catalyst layer by 9.71% without net power loss. Furthermore, this study examines the impact of length, height of entrance steps, and outlet channel height on heat transfer and identifies the optimum value. When severe water flooding occurs, the gas purge coupled with the step-fronted scheme is essential for improving temperature uniformity.

A new reduced geometric model for simulation and design of NETmix reactors: LoopNUB

NETmix is a mesosized static mixer comprising a network of mixing chambers and channels, which has experienced a fast industrial uptake. The flow inside this mixer has been previously simulated using the NETmix Unit Block (NUB) - a vertical subdomain of the network that uses lateral Periodic Boundary Conditions (PBCs). A new model is introduced, enabling further reduction of the simulated space – the LoopNUB – that considers PBCs in the sidewalls and between the inlets and outlets, representing an infinite network. The LoopNUB with four rows proved suitable for simulating flow dynamics in NETmix for distances larger than 8 unit cells from inlet channels. LoopNUB was verified, and the results were validated from NUB simulations, which had been validated from experiments. LoopNUB enables the accurate simulation of flow dynamics and heat transfer while decreasing simulation time and computational resources such as disk and memory usage.

Actuation Modeling of a Microfluidically Reconfigurable Radiofrequency Device

Abstract Microfluidic-based techniques have been shown to address limitations of reconfigurable radio frequency (RF) antennas and filters in efficiency, power handling capability, cost, and frequency tuning. However, the current devices suffer from significant integration challenges associated with packaging, actuation, and control. Recent advances in reconfigurable microfluidics that utilize the motion of a selectively metalized plate (SMP) for RF tuning have demonstrated promising RF capabilities but have exposed a need for an accurate fluid actuation model. This research presents a model for the mechanical motion of a moving plate in a channel to relate the SMP size, microfluidic channel size, velocity, and inlet pressure. This model facilitates understanding of the actuation response of an RF tuning system based on a moving plate independent of the actuation method. This model is validated using a millimeter-scale plate driven by a gravitational pressure head as a quasi-static pressure source. Measurements of the prototyped device show excellent agreement with the analytical model; thus, the designer can utilize the presented model for designing and optimizing a microfluidic-based reconfigurable RF device and selecting actuation methods to meet desired outcomes. To examine model accuracy at device scale, recent papers in the microfluidics reconfigurable RF area have been studied, and excellent agreement between our proposed model and the literature data is observed.

Multi-objective parameter optimization of the Z-type air-cooling system based on artificial neural network

The performance of electric vehicles is significantly influenced by the battery thermal management system (BTMS). In this article, the Z-type air cooling BTMS is studied, and a method combining an artificial neural network (ANN) model as a surrogate model with non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II (NSGA-II) for multi-objective optimization is proposed to enhance the heat dissipation performance. The ANN model is trained by using 1529 sets of numerical simulation data of Z-type air cooling system, and the fast and high-precision prediction of heat dissipation performance is realized, which effectively avoids the repeated calculation of CFD. The design variables studied include geometric structure parameters and inlet wind speed (vinlet), and the target variables are maximum temperature (Tmax), temperature difference (ΔTmax) and pressure loss (ΔP). From the new perspective of genetic evolution process of NSGA-II, it is proved that the design of tapered inlet and outlet is better than that of flat and expansion outlet, the wide channel near the inlet and narrow channel near the outlet are more conducive to the improvement of heat dissipation performance. Further analysis shows that there is a linear relationship among vinlet, Tmax and ΔP in the Pareto solution set of Z-type air-cooling system, which simplifies the Pareto model effectively, and engineers can predict the optimal performance of BTMS by this relationship. In addition, through sensitivity analysis, it is found that in the Z-type BTMS, the operating parameter vinlet has the greatest influence on the heat dissipation performance and pressure loss, while the geometric parameters have less influence. Compared with the benchmark case, the optimized design scheme reduces Tmax, ΔTmax and ΔP by 1.97 K, 6.32 K and 2.82 Pa, respectively, which significantly improves the heat dissipation performance.