Analysis of Flow Distribution and Heat Transfer Characteristics in a Multi-Branch Parallel Liquid Cooling Framework

Qipeng Li, Yu Wang (), Wenhui Tang, Risto Kosonen, Lujiang Xu, Xuejing Yang, Zhengchao Yang and Xiaoyi Sun
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Qipeng Li: Department of HVAC Engineering, College of Urban Construction, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, China
Yu Wang: Department of HVAC Engineering, College of Urban Construction, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, China
Wenhui Tang: China Shipbuilding Corporation Eighth Research Institute, Nanjing 211153, China
Risto Kosonen: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Aalto University, 021050 Espoo, Finland
Lujiang Xu: Department of Energy Engineering, College of Engineering, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210031, China
Xuejing Yang: Department of HVAC Engineering, College of Urban Construction, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, China
Zhengchao Yang: Department of HVAC Engineering, College of Urban Construction, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, China
Xiaoyi Sun: Department of HVAC Engineering, College of Urban Construction, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, China

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 13, 1-23

Abstract: The parallel multi-branch pipeline system is usually used for fluid transportation and distribution in the cooling of high-power electronic equipment, especially in radar equipment. Using CFD software, a simulation study was conducted to analyze the fluid flow distribution and heat transfer characteristics within a 6 × 5 parallel multi-branch pipe. This study examined how the dimensions of the fluid channels in the liquid cooling system affected the uniformity of flow distribution and the cooling effectiveness of the system for electronic equipment. The deviation from the design flow rate was used as an evaluation criterion to assess flow distribution uniformity across the branches and components of the multi-branch liquid cooling system. After ensuring uniform flow distribution, the overall heat transfer characteristics of the liquid cooling system were analyzed. The main findings are as follows: by adjusting the flow channel dimensions within the system, the overall flow distribution uniformity increased by 10%, with the deviation from the design flow rate in each T/R component remaining within 20%. The 6 × 5 parallel multi-branch cold plate efficiently cools T/R components with heat flux densities of up to 500 W/cm 2 , maintaining the maximum component temperature below 358 K.

Keywords: parallel multi-branch pipe systems; flow distribution; cooling effect; flow state; numerical simulation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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