A Multi-Fidelity Global Search Framework for Hotspot Prevention in 3D Thermal Design Space

TL;DR

This paper introduces a computationally efficient multi-fidelity framework using Bezier parameterization and pseudo-3D modeling for optimizing 3D heat sink geometries, achieving significant pressure loss reduction and enabling rapid design exploration.

Contribution

It presents a novel Bezier-based multi-fidelity optimization framework combining pseudo-3D modeling and high-fidelity calibration for efficient 3D heat sink design.

Findings

Achieves up to 50% pressure loss reduction.

Validates pseudo-3D model accuracy against full 3D simulations.

Reduces computational cost by several orders of magnitude.

Abstract

We present a B\'ezier-based Multi-Fidelity Thermal Optimization Framework, which is a computationally efficient methodology for the global optimization of 3D heat sinks. The flexible B\'ezier-parameterized fin geometries and the adopted multi-fidelity pseudo-3D thermal modeling strategy meet at a balance between accuracy and computational cost. In this method, the smooth and compact B\'ezier representation of fins defines the design space from which diverse topologies can be generated with minimal design variables. A global optimizer, the Covariance Matrix Adaptation Evolution Strategy, minimizes the pressure drop with respect to a given surface-average temperature constraint to achieve improvement in the pressure loss. In the framework, the pseudo-3D model couples two thermally interacting 2D layers: a thermofluid layer representing the fluid domain passing through the fins, and a conductive base plate representing the surface where excessive average temperature is to be avoided. Both layers are coupled with calibrated heat transfer coefficients obtained from high-fidelity 3D simulations. For several fin geometries, the proposed framework has been validated by comparing the pseudo-3D results with those of full 3D simulations, which yielded good agreement in terms of temperature distribution and pressure drops when the computational cost was reduced by several orders of magnitude. Optimization results show that it attains up to 50\% pressure loss reduction compared to conventional straight-fin configurations, and it reveals a clear trade-off between thermal performance and hydraulic efficiency. Thus, the proposed method forms a new basis for fast, geometry-flexible, and optimized heat sink design, enabling efficient exploration of complex geometries.