Heat Transfer and Flow Characteristics of Open-cell Metal Foams

doi:10.12382/bgxb.2022.0482

Abstract

Abstract:

In recent years, the application of open-cell metal foams in heat dissipation equipment has gradually become a research hotspot. Its structure is generally simplified in numerical simulation due to its complex and disordered structure. At present, there are a variety of simplified models, but the simplified models suitable for the simulation of heat transfer and flow characteristics are not clear. In addition, the structural parameters of metal foam suitable for heat dissipation need to be studied in detail. Therefore, five simplified 3-D models of open-cell metal foams are established, and the heat transfer and flow characteristics are compared to conclude that Gibson-Ashby model can describe the heat transfer and flow characteristics of open-cell metal foams more accurately. On this basis, Gibson-Ashby model is used to analyze the heat transfer and flow performance of open-cell metal foams. The results show that the comprehensive performance j/f^1/3 of open-cell metal foam fins with 90% porosity and 30PPI pore density is the best. Comparing the open-cell metal foam fins with porosity of 90% and pore density of 30PPI with the flat fin, the results show that the heat transfer effect of open-cell metal foam fins is more than two times that of the flat fin, and its comprehensive performance is better than that of the flat fin. The research results can provide reference for the application and design of open-cell metal foams in heat transfer field.

Key words: open-cell metal foam, simplified 3-D model, flat fin, numerical simulation, heat transfer, resistance

CLC Number:

TK124

LI Jing, SUN Xiaoxia, MA Xinglong, ZHU Wenxiang. Heat Transfer and Flow Characteristics of Open-cell Metal Foams[J]. Acta Armamentarii, 2024, 45(1): 122-130.

Figures/Tables 23

Fig.1 Structure of plate-fin heat exchanger

Fig.2 Open-cell metal foam heat exchanger

Fig.3 Actual structure of open-cell metal foams

Fig.4 Gibson-Ashby model

Fig.5 Cubic filament model

Fig.6 Decahedral model

Fig.7 Spherical void model

Fig.8 Hollow regular hexahedron model

Fig.9 Calculation model of heat exchanger

Fig.10 Mesh generation

Table 1 Verified results for grid independence

网格数目	出口温度 T/K	T相对误差/%	进口压力 p/Pa	p相对误差/%
1636256	305.26		73.13
2603518	305.19	0.023	72.55	0.793
3671255	305.14	0.016	72.29	0.358

Fig.11 Comparison of heat transfer coefficientsh of models

Fig.12 Comparison of the specific pressure drops of models

Fig.13 Temperature distribution of Gibson-Ashby model

Fig.14 Temperature distribution of each section

Fig.15 Pressure distribution on longitudinal symmetry plane

Fig.16 Streamline diagram of heat exchange inlet section

Fig.17 Turbulence intensity distribution on longitudinal symmetry plane

Table 2 Comparison of open-cell metal foam fin structures

ε/%	PPI	h/(W·m^-2·K^-1)	Δp/(Pa·m^-1)	j/f^1/3
90	10	1020.41	1410.14	0.106
90	20	1267.25	1733.78	0.155
90	30	1620.77	2782.24	0.213
95	10	663.88	481.35	0.099
95	20	924.89	1056.42	0.133
95	30	1143.73	1799.92	0.174

Fig.18 Schematic diagram of flat fin and heating plate model

Table 3 Dimension parameters of flat fin and heating plate

a/mm	b/mm	c/mm	d/mm	e/mm	f/mm	ε/%
50.8	10.16	0.25	3.05	10.16	0.5	90

Fig.19 Changing curves of Nu with Re of the two fins

Fig.20 Changing curves of j/f1/3 with inlet velocity v

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