关键词: 泡沫金属, 等效热导率, 模型, 预测, 传热, 测量

Abstract: A new model for calculating effective thermal conductivities of different metal foams is proposed based on an appropriate geometrical modeling method. The geometrical modeling is based on the representative cell geometry of metal foam, Kelvin tetrakaidecahedron, and the foam ligament is geometrically represented by concave tri-prism. The characteristic of foam node is also taken into account in the model. A general expression for calculating effective thermal conductivity is derived from thermal resistance analysis. In the present model, no geometrical parameter needs to be determined through experiments to describe the relationship between foam ligament and node. Compared with available experimental data and semi-empirical models in literature, the present model can accurately predict the effective thermal conductivities of different metal foams saturated with different mediums, with the average relative deviations from the experimental data within 10%. Considering both accuracy and generality, the present model is superior to existing semi-empirical models.

Key words: metal foam, effective thermal conductivity, model, prediction, heat transfer, measurement