The effects of a rotor–stator interface model on the hydraulic and suction performance of a single-stage centrifugal pump have been evaluated. A three-dimensional Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) analysis was performed using the shear-stress transport turbulence model. The cavitating flow was simulated using a homogeneous two-phase mixture model and a simplified Rayleigh–Plesset cavitation model. Three performance parameters were selected to compare different cases: the hydraulic efficiency, head coefficient, and critical cavitation number for a head-drop of 3%. Frozen-rotor and stage models were evaluated for the rotor–stator interface. The evaluation was done using three different computational domains: one with a single passage of the impeller with a vaneless diffuser, one with a single passage of the impeller with the whole shape of volute casing, and another with the whole passage of the impeller with the whole shape of volute casing. Two different volute shapes were also tested. The results show that it is desirable to use the whole domain of the impeller and volute with the frozen-rotor model for accurate prediction of the suction performance. The stage model is not recommended for the prediction of the suction performance of the centrifugal pump with the volute in severe off-design conditions.

This work presents a three-objective design optimization of a centrifugal pump impeller to reduce flow recirculation and cavitation using three-dimensional (3D) Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes equations. A cavitation model was used to simulate the multiphase cavitating flow inside the centrifugal pump. The numerical results were validated by comparing them with experimental data for the total head coefficient and critical cavitation number. To achieve the optimization goals, blockage at 50% of the design flow rate, hydraulic efficiency at the design flow rate, and critical cavitation number for a head-drop of 3% at 125% of the design flow rate were selected as the objective functions. Based on the results of the elementary effect (EE) method, the design variables selected were the axial length of the blade, the control point for the meridional profile of the shroud, the inlet radius of the blade hub, and the incidence angle of tip of the blade. Kriging models were constructed to approximate the objective functions in the design space using the objective function values calculated at the design points selected by Latin hypercube sampling (LHS). Pareto-optimal solutions were obtained using a multi-objective genetic algorithm (MOGA). Six representative Pareto-optimal designs (POD) were analyzed to evaluate the optimization results. The PODs showed large improvements in the objective functions compared to the baseline design. Thus, both the hydraulic performance and the reliability of the centrifugal pump were improved by the optimization.

The performances of various transverse-flow double-layer microchannel heat sink configurations were evaluated compared to those of parallel-flow heat sink configurations via conjugate heat transfer analysis. For the analysis, three-dimensional Navier–Stokes and energy equations for steady incompressible laminar flow were solved using a finite-volume solver. Water with temperature-dependent thermophysical properties was used as a coolant. The thermal resistances were evaluated for various flow configurations of both cross-channel and parallel-channel designs with identical geometric parameters and total flow rate. Changes in the microchannel flow direction lead to remarkable changes in thermal resistance and temperature uniformity. A transverse-flow configuration exhibited the best overall performance among the tested flow configurations in terms of the thermal resistance, temperature uniformity, and pressure drop.

A printed circuit heat exchanger (PCHE) with zigzag flow channels in a double-faced configuration was optimized to enhance its thermal–hydraulic performance. Using exergy analysis, the objective function was defined as the net exergy gain of the system considering the exergy gain by heat transfer and exergy loss due to friction in the channels. A Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) analysis and surrogate modeling techniques were used for the optimization. Three geometric variables were selected as the design variables. The objective function was calculated at each design point through RANS analysis in order to construct a response surface surrogate model. Through the optimization, both the thermal and hydraulic performances of the PCHE were improved with respect to the reference geometry by suppressing flow separation in the channels.

Optimization of a hybrid double-side jet impingement cooling system for high-power light emitting diodes (LEDs) was performed using a hybrid multi-objective evolutionary approach and three-dimensional numerical analysis for steady incompressible laminar flow and conjugate heat transfer using Navier–Stokes equations. For optimization, two design variables, i.e., ratios of the diameter of jet holes and the distance from the exit of upper impinging hole to chips to thickness of substrate were chosen out of the various geometric parameters affecting the performance of the cooling system. To evaluate cooling performance and pressure loss of the system, two objective functions, viz., the ratio of the maximum temperature to average temperature on the chips and pressure coefficient, were selected. Surrogate modeling of the objective functions was performed using response surface approximation. The Pareto-optimal solutions were obtained using a multi-objective evolutionary algorithm, and performances of three representative Pareto-optimal designs were discussed compared to a reference design. In the optimal designs, higher level of uniform cooling was generally achieved with higher pressure coefficient. The Pareto-sensitivity analysis between the objective function and design variable was also performed.