Selected problems of gas-liquid flow through the channels filled with metal foams

Opole University of Technology, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Department of Process Engineering, 5 Mikolajczyka Street, 45-271 Opole, Poland

^⁎ Corresponding author: m.placzek@po.opole.pl

Abstract

Open-cell metal foams are relatively unknown type of cellular material, which is increasingly being used as structural packing in the industrial equipment. The paper presents an analysis of experimental results on heat transfer and hydrodynamics of gas-liquid two-phase flow through the channels filled with metal foams. The research included the registration of temperature and pressure changes on fluid flow path. Furthermore the phase void fraction was measured and flow patterns in present in the channel were observed. It was found that in two-phase flow, both from heat transfer and hydrodynamics of flow point of view, the liquid plays the dominant role. It was also found a significant influence of flow patterns on frictional pressure loss value and phase void fraction. Whereas the flow patterns and geometry of the foam in much lesser extent influence on the intensity of heat transfer. Type of gas-liquid flow patterns primarily depends on flow conditions, including the velocity and properties of fluids. On the other hand, it wasn’t stated any significant effect of geometrical parameters of foam on the type of flow and the value of phase void fraction. Among many flow patterns observed during the study, there have been identified four basic structures: plug, semi-slug, slug, and stratified.