Reduction of Flow Resistance with Hybrid TPMS Heat Exchangers

Abstract

The design freedom enabled by additive manufacturing, combined with the unique properties of generative lattice structures, has gained increasing attention in thermal system technologies, especially for the development and fabrication of heat exchangers. In this study, a hybrid heat exchanger was developed by integrating a Diamond unit cell, known for its high thermal performance, with an IWP unit cell, which offers low flow resistance. The goal is to reduce flow resistance while maintaining heat transfer efficiency. A physical model was simulated using ANSYS software to evaluate the heat exchanger’s performance. The results indicate that integrating IWP cells into a Diamond unit cell structure effectively reduces flow resistance, though with a slight compromise in heat transfer performance. This balance provides a viable design strategy for heat exchangers in applications requiring precise flow resistance control.