Quantum Computing Applications for Compact Heat Exchanger Design and Assessment

Abstract This paper explores possible implementations of quantum computing technologies, namely the quantum annealing and the quantum walk search algorithm, to solve fluid dynamics problems related to the design and assessment of compact heat exchangers for aeronautical environmental control and thermal management systems, as well as several other science and engineering applications, e.g. oil and gas refinery process. The purpose of this paper is to introduce two alternative implementations to the already assessed numerical resolution of Navier–Stokes equations or the resolution of analog quantum mechanical problem, highlighting how the use of quantum annealing and a classification algorithm (quantum walk search algorithm) can be implemented for the resolution of a lumped-characteristic analytical model of the heat transfer inside a compact heat exchanger, also in case of two-phase refrigerant fluid, for the use during design phase of environmental control system, e.g. provide the design engineers with a relatively simple and quick to use tool, which provides a reasonable result with an easily interpretable physical meaning. We start with a simple two-phase flow within a single-pass mini-channel heat exchanger, describing the mathematical formulation of the problem followed by a simplified implementation of the proposed quantum approaches, highlighting the main procedures of the calculation as well as the practical implications, advantages and disadvantages of the proposed method, e.g. a limited number of CFD simulations are required to evaluate air side heat transfer coefficient and pressure drop for particular designs within the defined design space, and the specific hardware required to implement the quantum process.