Multiscale optimisation algorithm for the next generation of heat exchanger

The innovation of this project is to create an **alternative design framework for cold plates**. **Cold plates** are common devices allowing components such as battery packs and micro-electrical devices to **operate within tolerance**. They take high importance with the current conversion being seen in the aircraft industry towards electrification and hydrogen due to NetZero Regulation.

The project will leverage multi-scale methods that are not present elsewhere. Designs will **improve performance**, in terms of thermal exchange and required pump pressure, over traditional "serpentine" designs being used by the industry.

The project is also responding to lessons learned from previous collaborations regarding the challenges of designing topology optimized cold plates. It enables faster iteration which can be leveraged by airframers within their digital-twin framework to automatically re-design cold plates in response to changes elsewhere in the system. Coupling the small-scale response directly to the finite element integration nodes offers a **new and potentially much faster way to simulate fluid flow**.

The project is collaborative: TOffeeAM, a SME and spin-out of Imperial College London (ICL) will collaborate with ICL to build the software and the new design.