Porous Materials in Heat Exchangers Used in Heating

Abstract

Abstract This paper proposes using porous metals to boost heat exchanger efficiency. One coolant (Freon) flows through the porous metal, while the other coolant (water) flows through the narrow tubes laid inside the porous metal. The paper presents a mathematical model for a porous-metal heat exchanger, which can find metal temperature changes in any section of the heat exchanger to compare the heat transfer rate of metals of different porosity. Calculation by standard methods is not an option, as the inner surface of pores is unknown. The temperature of hot water inside the heat exchanger is to be found analytically. The obtained equations help determine the degree of cooling the first coolant (hot water). Porous heat exchangers can be used in heating systems.