A critical review of constructal theory

Abstract

Constructal theory applied to the volume to point or point to volume flows aims to decrease global flow resistance by furnishing low resistive flow links in the flow field. Constructal theory expects to improve the flow performance by increasing the branching of the low resistive flow links. Fourteen different constructal theory applications involving tree shaped flow networks are reviewed with the purpose to check whether the increase in branching of tree shaped flow networks leads to increased flow performance or not? In other words, the review aims to answer the question; does the evolution model of constructal theory, increasing the branching of tree shaped flow networks through the sequence of constructal designs, improve the flow performance? The review shows that constructal theory will not necessarily improve the flow performance if the internal branching of the flow field is increased, in contrast, the performance will mostly be lowered if the internal branching of the flow field is increased.