Faculty Publications
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Item Performance evaluation of partially filled high porosity metal foam configurations in a pipe(Elsevier Ltd, 2021) Jadhav, P.H.; Gnanasekaran, N.; Arumuga Perumal, D.A.; Mobedi, M.In this contemporary research, a parametric analysis of partially filled high porosity metallic foams in a horizontal conduit is performed to augment heat transfer with reasonable pressure drop. The investigation includes six different models filled partly with aluminium foam by varying internal diameter of foams from the wall side and external diameter of foam from the core of the tube. The pore density of the foam ranges from 10 to 45 PPI and their porosity varies from 0.90 to 0.95. Flow dynamics are captured using Darcy Extended Forchheimer model for the porous filled region and two-equation turbulence k-? model employed in clear region of the fluid. The local thermal non-equilibrium assumption is incorporated in porous filled region of the conduit to compute the heat transport characteristics. The results showed that the thermal performance factor of 10 PPI aluminium foam performs close to the 10 PPI expensive copper foam. The performance factor is found to be higher for 30 PPI aluminium foam amongst the PPI's of the foam considered. However, the performance factor is found to be 2.93, 2.22 and 1.73 for 30PPI, 45 PPI and 20PPI with their porosities of 0.92, 0.90 and 0.90, respectively for the model 1, model 2 and model 3 at lower Reynolds number of 4500 and then it decreases progressively with increasing flow rates of the fluid. The results of average wall temperature, average Nusselt number and Colburn j factor are also evaluated to obtain best possible performance. © 2021Item Various trade-off scenarios in thermo-hydrodynamic performance of metal foams due to variations in their thickness and structural conditions(MDPI, 2021) Trilok, G.; Gnanasekaran, N.; Mobedi, M.The long standing issue of increased heat transfer, always accompanied by increased pressure drop using metal foams, is addressed in the present work. Heat transfer and pressure drop, both of various magnitudes, can be observed in respect to various flow and heat transfer influencing aspects of considered metal foams. In this regard, for the first time, orderly varying pore density (characterized by visible pores per inch, i.e., PPI) and porosity (characterized by ratio of void volume to total volume) along with varied thickness are considered to comprehensively analyze variation in the trade-off scenario between flow resistance minimization and heat transfer augmentation behavior of metal foams with the help of numerical simulations and TOPSIS (Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution) which is a multi-criteria decision-making tool to address the considered multi-objective problem. A numerical domain of vertical channel is modelled with zone of metal foam porous media at the channel center by invoking LTNE and Darcy–Forchheimer models. Metal foams of four thickness ratios are considered (1, 0.75, 0.5 and 0.25), along with varied pore density (5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 PPI), each at various porosity conditions of 0.8, 0.85, 0.9 and 0.95 porosity. Numerically obtained pressure and temperature field data are critically analyzed for various trade-off scenarios exhibited under the abovementioned variable conditions. A type of metal foam based on its morphological (pore density and porosity) and configurational (thickness) aspects, which can participate in a desired trade-off scenario between flow resistance and heat transfer, is illustrated. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.Item Performance score based multi-objective optimization for thermal design of partially filled high porosity metal foam pipes under forced convection(Elsevier Ltd, 2022) Jadhav, P.H.; Trilok, G.; Gnanasekaran, N.; Mobedi, M.Optimization study in flow through metal foams for heat exchanging applications is very much essential as it involves variety of fluid flow and structural properties. Moreover, the identification of best combinations of structural parameters of metal foams for simultaneous improvement of heat transfer and pressure drop is a pressing situation. In this work, six different metal foam configurations are considered for the enhancement of heat transfer in a circular conduit. The foam is aluminum with PPI varying from 10 to 45 and almost the same porosity (0.90-0.95). The aluminum foams are chosen from the available literature and they are partially filled in the conduit to reduce the pressure drop. For a constant heat flux condition, the goal is to find out the efficient metal foam and configurations when air is considered as a working fluid. A special attention is paid to the preference between pressure drop and heat transfer enhancements. That is why TOPSIS optimization techniques with five different criteria (contains the combination of the weightage/priority of heat transfer and pressure drop) is used. Based on the numerical results of heat and fluid flow in conduit, it is found that when an equal importance is given to both heat transfer and friction effect, 30 PPI aluminum foam with 80% filling on the inner lateral of the pipe provides the best score as 0.8197. The best configuration and PPI for different preferences between friction and heat transfer enhancements is discussed in details. The Reynolds number varies from 4500 to 16500. © 2021 Elsevier LtdItem Numerical assessment of thermal characteristics of metal foams of orderly varied pore density and porosity under different convection regimes(Elsevier Masson s.r.l., 2022) Trilok, G.; Kumar, K.K.; Gnanasekaran, N.; Mobedi, M.The present study is done to analyze heat transfer and fluid flow in a channel with orderly varied pore density and porosity combination of foam samples. Darcy Forchheimer flow and LTNE thermal models are considered to estimate heat transfer characteristics. Considering the effect of orderly varied combinations of the dual structural properties, forced convection over a range of flow velocities and natural convection phenomenon are studied numerically in the channel housing porous samples. Two limiting solutions for Nusselt number (Nu) i.e., Nun (for natural convection) and Nuf (for forced convection) for Ri→∞ and Ri→0 respectively, as a function of independent variable Richardson number (Ri) with structural properties pore density and porosity are obtained with the help of local thermal non-equilibrium (LTNE) thermal model and Darcy-Forchheimer flow model. Further these asymptotic solutions are blended using technique illustrated in the literature in order to obtain solution for Nusselt number for mixed convection (Num). Correlations for Nusselt number as a function of combination of porosity and pore density are obtained emphasizing on the varied significance of these parameters in different convection regime. The present study not only emphasizes on effect of combination of structural properties of metal foams on heat transfer characteristics, but also illustrates a technique that enables to arrive at suitable correlation for an intermediate phenomenon existing between two other extremes, with zero computational cost. Effect of pore density on heat transfer characteristics at a given porosity, is found to be not much influencing in natural convection dominant regime. However, in mixed and forced convection dominant scenario it is illustrated that, effect of variation in pore density and porosity plays a significant role in expressing distinguishable heat transfer characteristics, along with other well-known independent parameters such as porosity and Reynolds number. © 2021 Elsevier Masson SASItem Correlations and Numerical Modeling of Stacked Woven Wire-Mesh Porous Media for Heat Exchange Applications(MDPI, 2022) Trilok, G.; Srinivas, K.E.S.; Harikrishnan, D.; Gnanasekaran, N.; Mobedi, M.Metal foams have gained attention due to their heat transfer augmenting capabilities. In the literature, correlations describing relations among their morphological characteristics have successfully been established and well discussed. However, collective expressions that categorize stacked wire mesh based on their morphology and thermo-hydraulic expressions required for numerical modeling are less explored in the literature. In the present study, cross relations among the morphological characteristics of stacked wire-mesh were arrived at based on mesh-size, wire diameter and stacking type, which are essential for describing the medium and determining key input parameters required for numerical modeling. Furthermore, correlation for specific surface area, a vital parameter that plays a major role in interstitial heat transfer, is provided. With the arrived correlations, properties of stacked wire-mesh samples of orderly varied mesh-size and porosity are obtained for various stacking scenarios, and corresponding thermo-hydraulic parameters appearing in the governing equations are evaluated. A vertical channel housing the categorized wire-mesh porous media is numerically modeled to analyze thermal and flow characteristics of such a medium. The proposed correlations can be used in confidence to evaluate thermo-hydraulic parameters appearing in governing equations in order to numerically model various samples of stacked wire-mesh types of porous media in a variety of heat transfer applications. © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.Item Numerical Study for Enhancement of Heat Transfer Using Discrete Metal Foam with Varying Thickness and Porosity in Solar Air Heater by LTNE Method(MDPI, 2022) Diganjit, R.; Gnanasekaran, G.; Mobedi, M.A two-dimensional rectangular domain is considered with a discrete arrangement at equal distances from copper metal foam in a solar air heater (SAH). The local thermal non-equilibrium model is used for the analysis of heat transfer in a single-pass rectangular channel of SAH for different mass flow rates ranging from 0.03 to 0.05 kg/s at 850 W/m2 heat flux. Three different pores per inch (PPI) and porosities of copper metal foam with three different discrete thicknesses at equal distances are studied numerically. This paper evaluates the performance of SAH with 10 PPI 0.8769 porosity, 20 PPI 0.8567 porosity, and 30 PPI 0.92 porosity at 22 mm, 44 mm, and 88 mm thicknesses. The Nusselt number for 22 mm, 44 mm, and 88 mm thicknesses is 157.64%, 183.31%, and 218.60%, respectively, higher than the empty channel. The performance factor for 22 mm thick metal foam is 5.02% and 16.61% higher than for 44 mm and 88 mm thick metal foam, respectively. Hence, it is found that metal foam can be an excellent option for heat transfer enhancement in SAH, if it is designed properly. © 2022 by the authors.Item Analysis of functionally graded metal foams for the accomplishment of heat transfer enhancement under partially filled condition in a heat exchanger(Elsevier Ltd, 2023) Jadhav, P.H.; Gnanasekaran, N.; Mobedi, M.The use of partially filled high porosity graded aluminum and copper foams is explored to satisfy both heat transfer and pressure drop in a heat exchanger. Both positive and negative orientations are accomplished for the enhancement of heat transfer with reduction in the pressure drop. The present research includes three different configurations M1, M2 and M3 (porous layer inner diameter = 0.06 m, 0.04 m, and 0.02 m, respectively, while outer diameter = 0.10 m) partially filled with positive (i.e., increasing, 20/45 PPI) negative (i.e., decreasing, 45/20 PPI) and compound (i.e., 45 Cu/20 Al PPI) graded porous layer thickness. Each configuration involves three different graded porous layer to present the optimum graded porous layer thickness. The thermo-hydrodynamic characteristics are apprehended by using Darcy Extended Forchheimer (DEF) flow and local thermal non-equilibrium (LTNE) models for the partially filled graded porous structure and k-ω turbulence model is accomplished in open passage flow of the conduit. The decreasing graded foam located inside the models M1 and M2 performed 1.68%–12.85% and 13.42%–23.32% higher heat transfer rate compared to without graded metal foam of models M2 and M3, respectively accompanied with 55.43%–84.02% and 35.69%–50.31% lesser pumping power. © 2022 Elsevier LtdItem Thermal resistance of Open-Cell metal foam with thermal interface materials (TIM)(Elsevier Ltd, 2023) Ganesan, P.; Zaib, F.; Zaharinie, T.; Mobedi, M.; Gnanasekaran, N.This study investigated the thermal resistances of sandwich structures consisting of open-type metal foams, base plates/surfaces, and thermal interface materials (TIMs) in two types of sandwiching configurations, namely Type 1 and Type 2. Samples were prepared using metal foam structures of 20, 40, and 60 pores per inch (PPIs), representing five commercial TIMs, i.e., pyrolytic graphite sheet (PGS), T621, SFT90, PC93, and PC94. They were categorised into two types: (i) thin and hard films (PGS, T621, SFT90) and (ii) thick and soft pads (PC93 and PC94). The thermal resistance and the thickness were measured under compression loadings of 0 – 60 N using an in-house thermal resistance tester developed according to the ASTM D5470 standard. Based on the nanoindentation test, PGS showed the highest hardness (0.2660 GPa), followed by T621 (0.0322 GPa), SFT90 (0.0235 GPa), PC93 (0.0007 GPa), and PC94 (0.0004 GPa). In general, thermal resistances were dependent on compression forces; they decreased with increasing compression loads. At a 30 N load for 60 PPI, the thermal resistance of the hard TIM sample was reduced to 62% with a 1.5% reduction in compression thickness at the Type 1 configuration. The resistance decreased as much as 8% when PPIs increased from 20 to 60. By contrast, at a 30 N load for 60 PPI, the thermal resistance of the soft TIM sample was reduced to 58% with a 16% reduction in compression thickness at the Type 1 configuration. When PPIs increased from 20 to 60, the resistance decreased by just 5%. Despite a lower thermal resistance reduction than the hard TIM, the soft TIM was 19% higher in thermal resistance difference. This study showed that joining metal foam, TIM, and base plate reduced thermal resistances while increasing their performance. © 2022 Elsevier LtdItem Thermohydraulic Efficiency of a Solar Air Heater in the Presence of Graded Aluminium Wire Mesh—A Combined Experimental–Numerical Study(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI), 2023) Diganjit, R.; Gnanasekaran, N.; Mobedi, M.In this work, aluminium wire mesh (WM) samples with 3, 9, and 18 pores per inch (PPI) and porosities of 0.894, 0.812, and 0.917, respectively, were combined together to form graded structures including 3-9-18, 9-18-3, and 18-3-9 PPIs. A 5 mm thickness for each WM was considered for a length of 2 m and inserted into a single-pass solar air heater (SAH) in which the height of the SAH was 120 mm. For the numerical analysis, a 3D numerical model was considered in ANSYS fluent software, and the Rosseland radiation model renormalization group (RNG) k-ε enhanced wall function was incorporated to account for solar radiation. The local thermal equilibrium (LTE) model was considered to obtain the heat-transfer characteristics of the WM. The numerical results of the thermohydraulic performance parameter (THPP) of the 9-18-3 PPI WM were 13.04% and 11.92% higher than the 3-9-18 and 18-3-9 PPI samples, respectively. Later, 25% of the 9-18-3 graded wire mesh (GWM) was considered at four different locations, i.e., 0, 0.5, 1, and 1.5 m away from the inlet, and analysed to obtain the best location for efficient heat transfer. The computational results show that 1.5 m away from the inlet is the best location among the different locations considered. The experimental results of the GWM at 1.5 m away from the inlet demonstrated a 20.91% and 23.32% increase in thermal efficiency compared to the empty channel for the 0.027 kg/s and 0.058 kg/s mass flow rates, respectively. From numerical-cum-experimental analysis, it was found that inserting 25% length of GWM of the entire length of the test section at a distance of 1.5 m from the inlet in single pass SAH improves the overall performance of the empty channel of single-pass SAH. © 2023 by the authors.Item Reconciliation of wire woven mesh porous media in controlling the desired heat transfer and pressure drop(Emerald Publishing, 2025) Trilok, T.; Gnanasekaran, N.; Mobedi, M.Purpose: Despite the reputation of the metal-based porous media for their ability to augment heat transfer as widely witnessed in the literature and practically operating heat exchanging applications, the coexisting penalty of the increased pressure drop demanding increased pumping power poses a major concern that invites the need for an alternate solution to handle this unsought outcome. Therefore, this study aims at providing a better solution to the existing cost and benefit scenarios to benefit a plethora of engineering applications including energy transfer, energy storage and energy conversion. Design/methodology/approach: This work highlights on the property of stacked woven wire mesh porous media such as their stacking types, porous conditions and thickness scenarios that can potentially result in distinct trade-off scenarios. A vertical channel is numerical modelled by using REV scaled modelling technique using Darcy-Forchheimer and local thermal non-equilibrium models to illustrate the possibilities of this variety of trade off scenarios between the desirable heat transfer and the unsought flow resistance. Findings: This work illustrates the advantages of wire mesh-based porous medium and its distinct potential in controlling the existing trade-offs between the cost and benefit aspects. It is found that by varying the features of wire mesh porous media, the interplay between the conflictingly existing characteristics can be much easily handled specific to distinct requirements associated with variety of engineering applications. Originality/value: The study emphasizes on a new solution or methodology to handle the penalty of pressure drop associated with metal-based porous media. Through this study, a novel approach to control the ultimately costing pumping power at the benefit of increased heat transfer is provided considering various requirements that could be associated with any thermal management systems. Various possibilities and potentials of wire mesh porous media are illustrated highlighting on their benefit of ease with which the mentioned goals can be achieved. © 2024, Emerald Publishing Limited.