1
Return

Thermal-hydraulic performance of gradient triply periodic minimal surface heat sinks: A combined experimental and numerical study

delete2026-05-23
delete0
PRE
AI
L
Liu, Chang
Z
Zhang, Mingkang *
L
Li, Zeer
L
Liang, Yifu
B
Bai, Yuchao
L
Liu, Yang
F
Fu, Jisheng
W
Wang, Di
DOI:10.1016/j.icheatmasstransfer.2026.111029delete
deleteOriginal
deleteOriginal request for help
deleteShare
deleteSave
Abstract

Abstract

En 中文
This study investigates the enhancement of convective heat transfer in gradient triply periodic minimal surface (TPMS) structures by proposing a novel gradient structural control approach based on the narrow-tube effect. Following experimental validation, numerical simulations are conducted to evaluate the thermal-hydraulic performance of gradient TPMS structures under various control functions. The P-Linear63 exhibits the highest convective heat transfer coefficient, measuring 2852 W/(m2.K) at 5 m/s, and achieves the best temperature uniformity, followed by P-Sin363, which achieves a highest Nusselt number of 419.9. Velocity and vorticity analyses reveal that heat transfer enhancement results from the narrow-tube effect and increased vortex generation, accelerating flow velocity from 3 m/s to 13.795 m/s and elevating turbulent kinetic energy k and turbulent dissipation rate epsilon. Although the gradient design leads to increased pressure drop, pumping power, and friction factor, the performance evaluation criterion (PEC) of the P-Sin363 heat sink exceeds 1 relative to both the conventional finned and uniform primitive heat sinks. This demonstrates an effective trade-off between enhanced heat transfer and mitigated pressure drop.
Keywords:
Triply periodic minimal surface
Heat sink
Computational fluid dynamics
Laser powder bed fusion
Heat transfer performance

Journal

International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer cover
International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer
IF:
6.4
Papers:
1.0W
Citations:
2.5W

Organization

G
guangdong ocean university
Scholars:
2.0K
Papers: 579
Citations: 0
N
ningbo university
Scholars:
4.5K
Papers: 1.4K
Citations: 0
H
Harbin Institute of Technology
Scholars:
1.1W
Papers: 3.8K
Citations: 8.5W
S
south china university of technology
Scholars:
6.5W
Papers: 5.0W
Citations: 85
Cited Papers

Cited Papers

Citing Papers

Citing Papers