Advances in Numerical Modeling for Heat Transfer and Thermal Management: A Review of Computational Approaches and Environmental Impacts

Łukasz Łach and Dmytro Svyetlichnyy ()
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Łukasz Łach: AGH University of Krakow, Faculty of Metals Engineering and Industrial Computer Science, al. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Krakow, Poland
Dmytro Svyetlichnyy: AGH University of Krakow, Faculty of Metals Engineering and Industrial Computer Science, al. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Krakow, Poland

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 5, 1-60

Abstract: Advances in numerical modeling are essential for heat-transfer applications in electronics cooling, renewable energy, and sustainable construction. This review explores key methods like Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), the Finite Element Method (FEM), the Finite Volume Method (FVM), and multiphysics modeling, alongside emerging strategies such as Adaptive Mesh Refinement (AMR), machine learning (ML), reduced-order modeling (ROM), and high-performance computing (HPC). While these techniques improve accuracy and efficiency, they also increase computational energy demands, contributing to a growing carbon footprint and sustainability concerns. Sustainable computing practices, including energy-efficient algorithms and renewable-powered data centers, offer potential solutions. Additionally, the increasing energy consumption in numerical modeling highlights the need for optimization strategies to mitigate environmental impact. Future directions point to quantum computing, adaptive models, and green computing as pathways to sustainable thermal management modeling. This study systematically reviews the latest advancements in numerical heat-transfer modeling and, for the first time, provides an in-depth exploration of the roles of computational energy optimization and green computing in thermal management. This review outlines a roadmap for efficient, environmentally responsible heat-transfer models to meet evolving demands.

Keywords: heat transfer; thermal management; computational fluid dynamics; environmental sustainability; high-performance computing; numerical modeling (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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