Tesla Valve Flow Channel Topology Optimization and Heat Transfer Performance Evaluation

Abstract Owing to the strong demand for heat transfer and flow stability in thermal hydraulics, Tesla valve liquid cold plates have received extensive attention. Unlike the traditional geometry optimization method, we innovatively couple the excellent differential pressure ratio of the Tesla valve and the efficient heat transfer performance of the liquid cold plate (including forward flow heat transfer and backward flow heat transfer) and use the topology method to carry out a topology optimization study with a comprehensive performance flow channel. In the process of single-objective optimization, a crescent-shaped island structure that is different from the traditional Tesla valve structure is found. In the process of multiobjective optimization, the number of crescent-shaped island structures in the cold plate determines the differential pressure ratio performance of the liquid cold plate. Moreover, the backward flow heat transfer and differential pressure ratio can be improved at the same time, which is consistent with the theory of heat transfer bitropy of the Tesla valve structure. There is competition between heat transfer and the differential pressure ratio of forward flow, and in the verification evaluation, the heat transfer performance and differential pressure ratio performance are well balanced when the differential pressure ratio weight w1=0.6. The research results can provide a reference for decision-making for the lightweight, structural simplification and performance improvement of thermohydraulic systems.