A novel method based on the calculus of variations to optimize the cooling passage configuration in thermal protection structure

Abstract

A novel method based on the calculus of variations to obtain the optimization of cooling structure was developed in this work. The optimization of heat sink designs for better heat-dissipating effects has been researched substantially. However, the optimization of cooling passage configurations in thermal protection structures to improve the comprehensive heat transfer performance has remained a long-term interest and unsolved problem for researchers. Due to the intrinsic complexity, the laminar flow is usually considered before while the turbulent flow is seldom treated. It is valuable to provide timely and effective solutions to optimize the cooling structure, where the turbulent flow is involved, for practical use. A novel method to optimize cooling structure based on the calculus of variations has been developed to meet this need. The average temperature, temperature inhomogeneity, and coolant flow pressure drop were chosen as objective functions. The cooling channels can be established depending on the geometric and thermal boundary conditions of the structure, and then the quasi-three-dimensional simulation of the fluid/solid coupling field was calculated to get the temperature distribution of the cooling structure, the pressure drop, etc. Hence, this work explores the feasibility of combining coupled heat transfer and the calculus of variations to realize optimal cooling channels. By the novel method, the minimum objective function can be obtained.