Contribution to the Topological Optimization of Reactive Flows

Topology optimization is increasingly employed to design fluid flow systems capable of achieving optimal performance under specific constraints. This study presents a density-based topology optimization approach specifically tailored for second-order reactive flows. The fluid-solid distribution within the domain is represented by continuous design variables expressed as an inverse permeability field. An adjoint method is used to efficiently compute gradients of the objective function, enabling the application of gradient-based algorithms to solve the optimization problem. The methodology is validated on a benchmark bend-pipe case, reproducing known optimal geometry. Subsequently, the method is applied to optimize a system involving second-order chemical reactions, aiming to maximize a desired reaction while limiting undesirable side reactions. Results demonstrate significant performance improvements, achieving gains in reaction efficiency ranging from 90.4% to 98.7% for the porous geometries and from 94.6% to 105.2% for real geometries. The optimization strategy successfully generates flow configurations analogous to those observed in modern gas turbines, highlighting the practical relevance and potential impact of the developed methodology.