Enhancement of heat exchanger thermal hydraulic performance using aluminum foam

Abstract This paper deals with an experimental study of a turbulent forced convection in a rectangular channel partly fitted with aluminum metallic foam blocks. Experiments were carried out on samples having a constant porosity of 93.8%, different grades of 5, 20 and 40 PPI, and three different height ratios of 0.6, 0.8 and 1. The blocks were arranged in a baffle like configuration. A constant heat flux of 2 W/cm2 was applied on the bottom wall of the test section, while air velocity was varied from 1 to 5 m·s−1. Temperatures of the wall along the flow direction as well as those of the inlet and outlet sections have been measured. Additionally, pressure drop measurements across the aluminum…