Numerical and experimental investigation of the gyroid heat exchanger

This paper presents a study of a novel type of heat exchanger (HE) whose core is built based on a Triply Periodic Minimal Surface structure. The core of this exchanger is built as a periodic structure based on a gyroid-type lattice and is manufactured by laser powder-bed fusion technology. This solution is distinguished not only by an exceptionally favorable ratio of the heat exchange surface area to the volume occupied but also by a unique geometry that additionally turbulates the flow and intensifies the heat exchange process. This article contains the results of numerical analyses of the entire exchanger under different operating conditions and the results of analyses of small fragments of the core filled with cells of different sizes. Numerical analyzes of the lattice-type exchanger are performed on the basis of the experimentally validated numerical model. The objective of the study is to determine the performance of the gyroid HE under different operational conditions and select the best elementary cell size per exchanger core for the assumed operating conditions. The printed HE was compared with a plate HE that was 30% larger, although the lattice one managed to achieve 10.5% higher values in on average Number of Transfer Units (NTU) and on average 5% higher temperature effectiveness (TE) in the studied range of flow parameters.