Simplified steady-state representation of slot synthetic jet actuators to enable numerical optimization with steady RANS simulations

To address the growing energy use of data centers, waste heat recuperation offers a solution to better integrate these facilities into the broader energy system, thus facilitating a transition to the decarbonization of the energy system. The use of liquid coolants for full immersion cooling or local heat extraction from high power density components is considered for this purpose. However, heat can also be extracted by novel air cooling approaches, perhaps in combination with localized liquid cooling. To optimize heat extraction from air-cooled systems and maximize the heat grade, synthetic jets (SJs) can be used for targeted adaptive cooling in conjunction with air ducting to facilitate maximum heat recuperation potential in rack or server-mounted air-to-liquid heat exchangers. Internal server layouts can be optimized numerically, e.g., using a multiple objective genetic algorithm approach based on minimization of entropy generation rates. However, since SJs are inherently transient flow phenomena, this would require transient flow simulations, which forms a bottleneck in a numerical optimization loop. This research aims to develop a simplified steady-state representation of a synthetic jet actuator (SJA) with slot orifice using a localized body force to generate a similar time-averaged flow field to a real SJA, suitable for steady Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes simulations within a numerical optimization loop. Both flow fields are compared in terms of the mean flow field, jet spreading rate, and turbulence intensity distributions.