An appraisal of the heat transfer properties of metallic open-cell foams for strongly exo-/endo-thermic catalytic processes in tubular reactors

Metallic and graphitic open-cell foams are being used or proposed as extended surfaces (fins) in heat sinks for electronic cooling and compact heat exchangers for aircraft applications. Three parameters must be known to calculate the heat transfer performance of a foam-fin: the product hmAc* as a function of flow-rate (the convective conductance per unit volume), the product ksAk* (the effective conductive conductance as a fin), and Rbond (the effective thermal resistance between the foam and the surface to which it is attached). This paper describes a new test method, which, in conjunction with an older well established type of test, allows all three parameters to be measured using one specimen.

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Thermal Properties of Graphite Foam: Experiments and Modeling

Volume 1 ◽

10.1115/esda2004-58555 ◽

2004 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

N. Yu ◽

C. C. Tee ◽

H. Li

Keyword(s):

Heat Transfer ◽

Thermal Conductivity ◽

Thermal Properties ◽

Mesophase Pitch ◽

Cooling Fluid ◽

Open Cell ◽

Manufacturing Technique ◽

Fluid Properties ◽

Transfer Properties ◽

Graphite Foam

Mesophase pitch-derived open-cell graphite foams with excellent heat transfer properties have been developed by using a relatively simple manufacturing technique [1]. The specific thermal conductivity of the graphite foam is more than seven times greater than that of copper and six times greater than that of aluminum. The present work focuses on the interactions between the effective heat transfer properties and foam microstructure, temperature, and cooling fluid properties.

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FULLY DEVELOPED CONVECTION HEAT TRANSFER IN OPEN-CELL FOAMS

Journal of Enhanced Heat Transfer ◽

10.1615/jenhheattransf.2018024743 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 25 (4-5) ◽

pp. 333-346

Author(s):

Marcello Iasiello ◽

Salvatore Cunsolo ◽

Nicola Bianco ◽

Wilson K. S. Chiu ◽

Vincenzo Naso

Keyword(s):

Heat Transfer ◽

Convection Heat Transfer ◽

Convection Heat ◽

Open Cell ◽

Open Cell Foams

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Analysis of Heat Transfer and Pressure Drop Through Idealized Open Cell Ceramic Foams: Comparison Between Kelvin and Weaire-Phelan Cell Structures

Volume 4: Heat and Mass Transfer Under Extreme Conditions; Environmental Heat Transfer; Computational Heat Transfer; Visualization of Heat Transfer; Heat Transfer Education and Future Directions in Heat Transfer; Nuclear Energy ◽

10.1115/ht2013-17234 ◽

2013 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

N. Bianco ◽

S. Cunsolo ◽

W. K. S. Chiu ◽

V. Naso ◽

A. Migliozzi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heat Transfer ◽

Pressure Drop ◽

Open Source Software ◽

Surface Evolver ◽

Open Cell ◽

Ceramic Foams ◽

Cell Structures ◽

Cell Architecture ◽

Cell Dimensions ◽

Open Cell Foams

In the applications of metal foams, the knowledge of the thermal transport properties is of primary importance. Thermal properties of a foam heavily depend on its microstructure. However, the influence of some geometric characteristics of the foam cells on their properties is far from being understood. Foam models are promising tools to study the above said effects. The effect of the cell architecture on heat transfer and pressure drop in open cell foams is investigated numerically using two foam models. The Kelvin and the Weaire-Phelan foam models are developed in an open source software “Surface Evolver”. Heat transfer and pressure drop in samples with different porosities and cell dimensions are studied using COMSOL® Multiphysics. Finally, a comparison between the numerical results obtained from two foam models is carried out in order to evaluate the feasibility to substitute the Weaire-Phelan foam structure, which is more complex and computationally heavier, with the simpler Kelvin foam representation.

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