Forced convection heat transfer in a porous channel subjected to oscillating flow

Abstract

The open-cell metal foam is a porous medium which possesses a true metal skeletal structure. The fully inter-connected pore and ligament structures provide the extreme large fluid-to-solid contact surface area and tortuous coolant flow path inside the metal foam, which could increase dramatically the overall heat transfer rate. The high specific surface area, low density and open-celled nature of a metal foam possesses a combination of properties ideally suited for applications in high heat flux thermal management where conventional materials and products are not adequate. In this research, forced convection in a heated channel filled with open-cell metal foam subjected to oscillating flow has been investigated experimentally and numerically.