Why a TPMS?

“What do you mean a minimal surface?! I want to maximize my surface area!”

These periodic structures come from nature and are most commonly related to soap bubbles/films that take specific shapes based on the bounds constraining them. The shapes generated generally give you the maximum surface area for the least amount of material – hence minimal surface.

Periodic Structures are great for heat exchangers because…

• They maximize surface area for the least amount of material
  • A near symmetric thermal contact area allows designs with thinner walls
• Inherently isolates two regions in space (i.e., a “hot & cold side”), making them ideal for HEX application.
  • The regions intermingle with one another thus, the heat transfer area of the hot & cold sides is virtually identical.
• Smooth topology for flow dynamics
  • Minimizes pressure drop (depends on density, cell size, etc)
• Generally self-supporting during the printing process
  • The angle of associativity ~38° (gyroid)
• Have a high strength-to-weight ratio
  • Which makes them suitable for light-weighting