SBIR-STTR Award

Investigators are exploring the use of metal foams as heat transfer enhancement devices. The research addresses the determination of the utilization of metal foams as beat transfer enhancement devices; development of a theoretical model for the effectiveness of metal foams as heat transfer enhancement devices; and optimization of the effect of metal foam porosity on the heat transfer process.The potential commercial application as described by the awardee: The project is breaking new grounds because it focuses on a new type of material that shows a great potential for use in heat augmentation applications. The implications of this fact in augmentation applications involving convection and boiling or condensation processes will be beneficial to the process industry.

The proposed research focuses on a combined analytical and experimental investigation into the possibility of the use of metal foams as heat transfer enhancement devices. Experimental facilities have been designed and fabricated to conduct the research and a third facility is in the design stage. The theoretical portion of the investigation has focused on the development of an analytical model of film boiling and condensation. The proposal focuses on a new type of material that shows great potential for use in augmentation applications in convection, boiling, and condensation