ANALYSIS OF THERMAL TRANSPORT THROUGH A FLAT-PLATE SOLAR COLLECTOR INTEGRATED WITH METAL-FOAM BLOCKS

Abstract

Forced convective heat transfer in a solar water collector channel with three metal-foam blocks attached on the inside wall, is studied numerically. Darcy equation with the Brinkman and Forchheimer terms is used to analyze the flow in the porous section; and Local thermal equilibrium (LTE) is considered between the working fluid and the porous region. The fluid flow in the channel and the thermal behavior of the system are analyzed considering various parameters such as Darcy number, thermal conductivity ratio, porosity and Reynolds number. The results prevail that the generated recirculation zones between blocks will significantly improve the heat transfer rate from the heated surface; and metallic porous material can perform as effective heat exchangers in thermal applications such as electronic cooling and solar heat collectors

Keywords

• solar collector,metal foam,electronic cooling

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