Convection and transient conduction in porous foams

• Main Author: Ng, Wei Hong.
• Other Authors: Leong Kai Choong
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2009
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Mechanical engineering
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/17203
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Graphite foams have the potential to bring heat removal systems to a new level. With its high thermal conductivity along its ligaments, it has the capability of surpassing conventional heat transfer materials. With the increasing demand for faster, more efficient electronic systems and devices, more efficient heat removal systems are also required. In this experimental study, the heat transfer properties of graphite foams have been investigated thoroughly. A total of five different types of graphite foams with different porosities and densities were studied in detail. Steady state temperature distribution and local Nusselt number trends were studied and analysed. The transient responses of these five materials were also studied. In a bid for a clear comparison of graphite foams and conventional heat sink materials such as copper and aluminium, additional experiments were carried out to show the differences in heat transfer capabilities. It was clearly shown that graphite foams have superior heat transfer capabilities as compared to copper and aluminium and also a faster response time to temperature change, which could be of vital importance to certain types of electronic systems and devices. In addition, some simulation work was done to compare and validate the data obtained from the experiments conducted.