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

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 characte...

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Main Authors: Qipeng Li, Yu Wang, Wenhui Tang, Risto Kosonen, Lujiang Xu, Xuejing Yang, Zhengchao Yang, Xiaoyi Sun
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Energies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/13/3266
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author Qipeng Li
Yu Wang
Wenhui Tang
Risto Kosonen
Lujiang Xu
Xuejing Yang
Zhengchao Yang
Xiaoyi Sun
author_facet Qipeng Li
Yu Wang
Wenhui Tang
Risto Kosonen
Lujiang Xu
Xuejing Yang
Zhengchao Yang
Xiaoyi Sun
author_sort Qipeng Li
collection DOAJ
description 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<sup>2</sup>, maintaining the maximum component temperature below 358 K.
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spelling doaj-art-887dc84545a44ba1ada82ad0ca03d8d02025-08-20T02:35:56ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732025-06-011813326610.3390/en18133266Analysis of Flow Distribution and Heat Transfer Characteristics in a Multi-Branch Parallel Liquid Cooling FrameworkQipeng Li0Yu Wang1Wenhui Tang2Risto Kosonen3Lujiang Xu4Xuejing Yang5Zhengchao Yang6Xiaoyi Sun7Department of HVAC Engineering, College of Urban Construction, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, ChinaDepartment of HVAC Engineering, College of Urban Construction, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, ChinaChina Shipbuilding Corporation Eighth Research Institute, Nanjing 211153, ChinaDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Aalto University, 021050 Espoo, FinlandDepartment of Energy Engineering, College of Engineering, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210031, ChinaDepartment of HVAC Engineering, College of Urban Construction, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, ChinaDepartment of HVAC Engineering, College of Urban Construction, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, ChinaDepartment of HVAC Engineering, College of Urban Construction, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, ChinaThe 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<sup>2</sup>, maintaining the maximum component temperature below 358 K.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/13/3266parallel multi-branch pipe systemsflow distributioncooling effectflow statenumerical simulation
spellingShingle Qipeng Li
Yu Wang
Wenhui Tang
Risto Kosonen
Lujiang Xu
Xuejing Yang
Zhengchao Yang
Xiaoyi Sun
Analysis of Flow Distribution and Heat Transfer Characteristics in a Multi-Branch Parallel Liquid Cooling Framework
Energies
parallel multi-branch pipe systems
flow distribution
cooling effect
flow state
numerical simulation
title Analysis of Flow Distribution and Heat Transfer Characteristics in a Multi-Branch Parallel Liquid Cooling Framework
title_full Analysis of Flow Distribution and Heat Transfer Characteristics in a Multi-Branch Parallel Liquid Cooling Framework
title_fullStr Analysis of Flow Distribution and Heat Transfer Characteristics in a Multi-Branch Parallel Liquid Cooling Framework
title_full_unstemmed Analysis of Flow Distribution and Heat Transfer Characteristics in a Multi-Branch Parallel Liquid Cooling Framework
title_short Analysis of Flow Distribution and Heat Transfer Characteristics in a Multi-Branch Parallel Liquid Cooling Framework
title_sort analysis of flow distribution and heat transfer characteristics in a multi branch parallel liquid cooling framework
topic parallel multi-branch pipe systems
flow distribution
cooling effect
flow state
numerical simulation
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/13/3266
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