Thermal behavior of open cell aluminum foams in forced air: Experimental analysis

• DOI: 10.1016/j.measurement.2014.09.069
• Publication Date: 2014-10-15T16:56:10Z
• Authors: Stefano Guarino; Gianluca Rubino; Vincenzo Tagliaferri; Nadia Ucciardello
• Keywords: Aluminum foam; Open cell; Convective heat transfer; Pressure drops; Aluminum foam; 0103 physical sciences; Settore ING-IND/21 - METALLURGIA; 600; Settore ING-IND/16 - TECNOLOGIE E SISTEMI DI LAVORAZIONE; 02 engineering and technology; Convective heat transfer; Pressure drops; 0210 nano-technology; 01 natural sciences; Open cell

Abstract This paper deals with the study of thermal and fluid dynamics properties of the open cell metal foams. A thermo-fluid dynamic analysis of three different types of aluminum alloy foams, 5, 10 and 20 pores per inch (PPI) was carried out by using a novel ad hoc built instrumentation. In particular, it has been investigated the Heat Transfer Coefficient (HTC * ) and the Pressure Drop (PD) under a flow of forced humid air. The influence of the main parameters, temperature of the metal foam and speed of humid air, both on the HTC * and on the PD was examined. Design of experiments (DOE) approach was used as support to interpret the experimental findings and the physical phenomena involved in HTC * and in PD, between foams and air. The analysis permitted to detect the effects of the operational parameters, foam pore size, air flux and temperature on the HTC * and on the PD.