The Journal of Science and Engineering Applications (JSEA)

Abstract

Heat transfer in porous media is a topic that has received 
great attention in the scientific community in recent 
decades. In this work, the effect of changing the 
diameters and porous materials on the heat transfer rate 
and pressure drop in an iron channel with cross-sectional 
dimensions (10 × 10) cm and length (240 cm) was 
studied at Reynolds numbers between (1100 to 2250) 
with a constant heat flux of 2000 W/m2, and the cross
sectional dimensions of the test section were (10 × 10) 
cm, and the length was (30) cm numerically.  Three 
porous materials with different diameters are used, 
Alumina with diameter (4-6 mm), Silica Gel with 
diameter (4-2 mm) and Molecular sieve with diameter 
(3-2 mm). The air flow directed through eight rows of 
cylinders in staggered arrangement, each with a diameter 
of 15 mm and a length of 10 cm, immersed in a porous 
packed bed. 
The results showed that Alumina partial has a greater 
capacity to absorb the heat generated around the 
cylinders because it has greater thermal conductivity and 
porosity than Silica Gel and Molecular sieve. According 
to research, increasing air velocity from 0.187 m/s to 
0.35 m/s increases the mass flow rate; resulting in a large 
heat transfer between the airflow and the cylinders. Also, 
the increase of the diameter of the porous particles, is 
decreases in the pressure drop.