Speakers:
Antonio Di Caterino, Customer Success Lead, ToffeeX
Daniel Mak, Engineer, Advanced Materials and Processing Laboratory, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
The submission period for the Formnext Awards has started. There is sure to be a category in which you can shine.
Or would you like to become part of our stage program? The call for speakers has already started.
Optimization of a Cross-Flow Oil Cooler with Generative Design
20 Nov 2025
In this session, we present the collaborative development of a cross-flow oil cooler for Nissan, leveraging the latest advances in generative design tailored for thermal-fluid optimization. The goal: maximize heat transfer while minimizing pressure drop—within strict manufacturing constraints for additive production. Using the latest two-fluid optimization tools, we explored a range of novel heat exchanger designs, achieving a solution that outperformed conventional gyroid and plated alternatives by over 6x in heat transfer-to-pressure drop efficiency. We’ll share how we navigated constraints such as minimum wall thickness, 45° SLM overhangs, and manufacturability, culminating in the successful 3D print of a complex, self-supporting geometry. This case study illustrates how generative design and additive manufacturing can radically improve thermal performance in compact automotive systems—and opens new pathways for high-efficiency, production-ready heat exchangers.