Pressure drop and friction factor of steady and oscillating flows in open-cell porous media |
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Authors: | Li wen Jin Kai Choong Leong |
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Institution: | (1) School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore, 639798, Republic of Singapore |
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Abstract: | Open-cell metal foams are often used in heat exchangers and absorption equipment because they exhibit large specific surface
area and present tortuous coolant flow paths. However, published research works on the characteristics of fluid flow in metal
foams are relatively scarce, especially for the flow oscillation condition. The present experimental investigation attempts
to uncover the behavior of steady and oscillating flows through metal foams with a tetrakaidecahedron structure. In the experiments,
steady flow was supplied by an auto-balance compressor and flow oscillation was provided by an oscillating flow generator.
The pressure drop and velocity were measured by the differential pressure transducer and hot-wire sensor, respectively. The
friction factor of steady flow in metal foam channel was analyzed through the permeability and inertia coefficient of the
porous medium. The results show that flow resistance in the metal foams increases with increasing form coefficient and decreasing
permeability. The empirical equation obtained by the present study indicates that the maximum friction factor of oscillating
flow through the tested aluminum foams with specific structure is governed by the hydraulic ligament diameter-based kinetic
Reynolds number and the dimensionless flow amplitude. |
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Keywords: | Dimensionless flow amplitude Friction factor Inertia coefficient Kinetic Reynolds number Permeability Pressure drop |
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