Experimental investigation of convective heat transfer in an open-cell aluminum foams

摘要

Experimental results of heat transfer and pressure drop for a three open-cell aluminum foam blocks are presented for turbulent forced convection. The aluminum foam samples are inserted in a rectangular channel in a staggered manner on its bottom and top walls. A constant heat flux of 2 W/cm(2) is maintained in the test section on the bottom wall. The wall temperatures along the flow direction as well as the average inlet and outlet temperatures of the air were measured. Measurements of pressure drop across the aluminum foam sample with a grade of 40 PPI and a porosity of 93% in a blower were used to determine the intrinsic properties of this foam and to allow the determination of its permeability and inertial coefficient. The air velocity was varied from 1 to 5 m s(-1) while two heights of the porous blocks respectively 16 mm and 20 mm were used. Additionally a configuration of solid blocks made of aluminum was investigated.