Experimental Investigation on Heat Transfer for Open-Cell Foam Metal

摘要

Open-cell foam metal (See Fig. 1) is a kind of porous material that has large heat transfer area per unit volume and complicated structure. This complicated structure will induce flow turbulence and break thermal boundary layer, which result in heat transfer augmentation. Higher pressure drop, however, is concerned in practical use. Several studies on permeability and effective heat conductivity of the foam metals have conducted to clarify basic hydraulic and thermal characteristics, however, study on convective heat transfer is scarce so far. Further, when it is used as the element of a heat exchanger, impermeable walls exist to separate two fluids, of which effect on heat transfer and pressure drop are not negligible. This paper focuses on the hydraulic and convective heat transfer characteristics of porous foam metal in taking account of this wall effects.