Thermal performance investigation of metal foam heat exchanger for micro-gas turbine

Abstract This study presents the experimental monitoring of heat transfer performance metal foams in transient state. Micro gas turbines require a compact recuperator with high effectiveness to achieve higher thermal efficiency. Porous media such as and ceramic are characterised by surface-to-volume ratio. They known increase potentially can be incorporated recuperators. Their structure is ideal for management lightweight applications. The idea combine excellent properties turbine gases fluxes exploitation, order elevate temperature different working fluid water or compressed air before it enters combustor. A novel facility was designed developed mechanisms that occur foams. copper cylinder filled foam which heated state sudden switch from cold hot flow whereas stream cools device crossflow configuration. demonstrates method based on computerisation true-colour analysis digital images surface visualisation using thermochromic liquid crystals (TLC). Results well local mean coefficient were obtained showing inside more dominant than empty channel. promising evaluation phenomena tube porous media.