Design of Multifunctional Lattice Frame Materials for Compact Heat Exchangers
Abstract Structured porous materials show great potential as extended surfaces in heat exchange applications that also require design for load bearing capability. In particular, lattice frame materials (LFM) are known for their superior strength to weight ratio; this work presents a comprehensive experimental and numerical study of fluid flow and heat transfer in porous LFMs. Flow through a periodic unit cell of the material is simulated to characterize the forced convection performance under hydraulically and thermally fully developed conditions. The performance of LFMs with a tetrahedral ligament configuration is characterized as a function of Reynolds number in the laminar regime (150 Re