This paper describes a new design method for constructing a heat exchanger computational model comprising TPMS (Triply Periodic Minimal Surface) core structures. These TPMS-Based core structures cannot be designed using the existing CAD systems, especially for heat exchangers with a high level of geometric complexity. This paper introduces a new implicit design algorithm based on the VDF (Volumetric Distance Field) calculation. All geometric components, including the TPMS-based core structures, heat exchanger exterior shapes, a set of parts for inlets and outlets, are represented by the VDF in a given design area. This enables the efficient design of computational models for the arbitrary-complex heat exchangers. The proposed design method extends the 2D flow pattern of the existing CHE into the 3D flow pattern, providing high heat transfer efficiency and low-pressure drop. Investigation of the design results and manufactured prototypes using the AM (Additive Manufacturing) technology showed that the proposed TPMS CHE design method can open a new paradigm for generating high-performance next-generation CHEs which cannot be designed and manufactured with the existing CAD and CAM technologies.

In this paper, a novel tissue engineering scaffold design method based on triply periodic minimal surface (TPMS) is proposed. After generating the hexahedral elements for a 3D anatomical shape using the distance field algorithm, the unit cell libraries composed of triply periodic minimal surfaces are mapped into the subdivided hexahedral elements using the shape function widely used in the finite element method. In addition, a heterogeneous implicit solid representation method is introduced to design a 3D (Three-dimensional) bio-mimetic scaffold for tissue engineering from a sequence of computed tomography (CT) medical image data. CT image of a human spine bone is used as the case study for designing a 3D bio-mimetic scaffold model from CT image data.