A study on pressure drop and heat transfer in open cell metal foams for jet engine applications

W. Azzi, W. L. Roberts, A. Rabiei*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

61 Scopus citations

Abstract

This research investigated the feasibility of placing a ring of open cell metal foam between the combustor and the turbine section of a turbojet engine to homogenize the temperatures leaving the combustor to raise the overall efficiency of such engines. Heat transfer testing on Al foam samples was done using infrared imaging to test the foam's efficiency of mixing the hot and cool temperatures with very promising results (21% and 37% mixing factor in a 10 cm thick layer of 5 and 10 PPI foam, respectively). Pressure drop testing on Al foam was also done in the compressible region of air to investigate the loss of pressure through the foam. The tests concluded that when temperature effects where accounted for, the pressure drop was less than 34.5 KPa per 2.54 cm of foam.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)569-574
Number of pages6
JournalMaterials and Design
Volume28
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 2007
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Jet engines
  • Open cell metal foam
  • Pressure drop

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Mechanics of Materials
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • General Materials Science

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