Forced convection and exergy analysis of discrete metal foams filled in a channel

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

International Journal of Thermofluids

Abstract

The work presents the exergy analysis of discrete/baffle metal foam filled in an asymmetrical heated channel using 2nd law of thermodynamics. The metal foam heat exchangers are deliberated as promising candidate for augmenting the heat transfer rate in numerous thermal applications, especially like electronics cooling, and etc. The objective of the analysis is to find the optimum discrete/baffle metal foam configuration that gives the superlative hydrothermal outcomes. Hence, the main aim of the investigation is to obtain the best suitable discrete/baffle metal foam combination among two, three, four and five discrete/baffles configurations positioned at various locations in the test section. For this purpose, the province taken up for the analysis comprises a horizontal channel in which an integrated heater cum aluminium plate assembly is positioned on the top wall. A constant heat input is assigned to the heater and the water coolant flowing through the channel takes away the heat generated inside the aluminium plate. The heat transfer through the channel is increased by using various discrete/baffle metal foam filling combinations. A combined DEF (Darcy Extended Forchheimer) along with LTE (Local Thermal Equilibrium) popular models are considered for envisaging the flow and heat transfer characteristics through the metal foam. The adopted procedure in the current work is initially authenticated using literature results. The upshots confirms that the discrete/baffle metal foam is best suited for enhancing the thermal properties compared to clear channel as well as fully filled metal foam channel. Among the various configuration studied the five discrete/baffle metal foam configuration gives the higher thermal improvement likened to other two, three and four metal foam configurations. The five discrete/baffle metal foam stretches approximately 74.27 % heat transfer likened with completely filled metal foam channel with nearly 50 % reduced pressure. It is evaluated from Colburn j factor that two, three, four and five discrete/baffle configuration gives an average of 167.04 %, 312.71 %, 315.54 % and 384.35 % increase in thermal performance respectively compared to clear channel. The working limits permitted by exergy (WLPE) is estimated based on exergy results for the selected configurations and found that the WLPE for 1-3 (two), 3-4-5 (three), 2-3-4-5 (four) and 1-2-3-4-5 (five) discrete/baffle metal foams configurations are 5024.96, 4182.93, 4169.14 and 3902.75 respectively. The exergy results also proves the selection of best optimum configuration.

DOI

10.1016/j.ijft.2025.101455

Publication Date

11-1-2025

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