Flow and Heat Transfer Study of Additively Manufactured High-Efficiency Compact TPMS Heat Exchanger

HUANG Jiajian; ZHOU Yuan; YAN Xiao; QIU Zicheng; YUAN Yuan; LI Jie

doi:10.7512/j.issn.1001-2303.2026.04.09

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Flow and Heat Transfer Study of Additively Manufactured High-Efficiency Compact TPMS Heat Exchanger
Vol. 56, Issue 4, Pages: 75-80(2026)
Received：12 December 2025，

Revised：2026-02-01，

Published：20 April 2026
DOI： 10.7512/j.issn.1001-2303.2026.04.09
稿件说明：

移动端阅览

黄家坚，周源，闫晓，等.基于增材的高效紧凑TPMS换热器的流动换热研究［J］.电焊机，2026，56（4）：75-80. DOI： 10.7512/j.issn.1001-2303.2026.04.09.

HUANG Jiajian, ZHOU Yuan, YAN Xiao, et al.Flow and Heat Transfer Study of Additively Manufactured High-Efficiency Compact TPMS Heat Exchanger[J].Electric Welding Machine, 2026, 56(4): 75-80. DOI： 10.7512/j.issn.1001-2303.2026.04.09.

摘要

基于布雷顿循环的惰性工质气冷堆是空间大功率核动力系统的潜在技术方案之一，其工程化应用的关键技术瓶颈在于高效紧凑型换热器的研制。近年来，增材制造技术的突破为仿生结构换热器的实现提供了新途径，尤其是涉及三维构型的TPMS换热器。采用数值模拟方法，研究了混合工质在3种TPMS流道内的流动与传热特性，并与相同水力直径的印刷电路板式换热器（PCHE）进行了对比分析。研究表明：TPMS结构因具有更高的比表面积及连续曲率流道诱导的湍流强化效应，其综合传热性能较PCHE提升25%~45%，热重比约为PCHE的2.44倍；与PCHE相比，TPMS在空间中形成曲面，增加了湍流动能，表面平均曲率为零，使表面光滑连续，与PCHE相比没有流动死区。TPMS具有更高的比表面积和比体积功率。由于其高比传热面积和功率密度，更符合空间反应堆换热器对轻量化与可靠性的双重需求。本研究为增材紧凑换热器的仿生优化设计提供了理论依据与数据参考。

Abstract

The inert gas-cooled reactor based on the closed Brayton cycle represents a promising technical pathway for high-power space nuclear systems

with the development of highly efficient and compact heat exchangers being a critical technological bottleneck for its engineering application. Recent breakthroughs in additive manufacturing have provided new opportunities for fabricating bio-inspired heat exchanger structures

particularly those involving complex three-dimensional configurations like triply periodic minimal surface (TPMS) heat exchangers. This paper investigates the flow and heat transfer characteristics of helium-xenon mixture in three types of TPMS channels using numerical simulations

with a comparative analysis against printed circuit heat exchangers (PCHEs) of identical hydraulic diameter.

Results

demonstrate that TPMS structures enhance overall heat transfer performance by 25%-45% compared to PCHEs

attributed to their higher specific surface area and turbulence enhancement induced by continuously curved flow passages

with a heat-to-weight ratio approximately 2.44 times that of PCHEs. Unlike PCHEs

TPMS structures form curved surfaces in space that increase turbulent kinetic energy while maintaining zero mean curvature

resulting in smooth

continuous surfaces without flow dead zones. TPMS structures exhibit higher specific surface area and volumetric power density. Due to their superior specific heat transfer area and power density

TPMS heat exchangers better satisfy the dual requirements of lightweight design and reliability for space reactor applications. This study provides both a theoretical foundation and empirical data to support the bioinspired optimization of additively manufactured compact heat exchangers.

关键词

Keywords

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