L-systems and fractals
This page features the early explorations of the use of fractals and principles from computer science for the generation of complex geometry. A Hilbert curve is a fractal that maps a one dimensional space, a line, to a two dimensional space, a plane. It is used in computer science to map a two dimensional data set like an image to a one dimensional space like an array whilst keeping as much of the spatial continuity intact. This type of space filling curve can also be generated for a three dimensional space. I could see potential for its use as a heat exchanger by mapping the heat differential along a pipe to a 3D space.
The 3D fractal seen here was made using L-systems whereas the 2D version was coded in VEX.