Analysis of heat transfer enhancement by conjunction of fluid additive particles and porous media

This experimental study presents heat transfer enhancement by slurry of fluid additive particles through metal foams. This research has been done in two separate parts based on the type of particles added to the base fluid(Water). Experiments have been conducted with aluminum metal foams with variety of pore densities in conjunction with nanofluids and slurry of microencapsulated octadecane as cooling fluids. Experimental tests for various wall heat fluxes, inlet velocities and particle concentration are carried out. Also the effect of porous media structure on heat transfer enhancement and mixing phenomena is studied. In the first part, by adding phase change material particles to water, enhancement in heat transfer happens mainly due to the departure of unmelted particles from center of the channel toward the heated surface area by mixing processes in the porous channel. In the second part, metallic nano particles increase the heat transfer rate by enhancement in effective thermal conductivity of the fluid.