Speaker
Description
Ceramic porous structures are effective tools for managing heat in demanding systems, such as heat
exchangers, porous burners, and volumetric solar receivers. These materials are ideal for high-temperature
use because of their high melting points and low thermal expansion. Recent developments in additive
manufacturing, such as Powder Bed Fusion combined with polymer infiltration, allow for the design of
optimized SiOC (silicon oxycarbide) structures with complex geometries. These include both strut-based
designs, such as rotated cube and octet, and surface-based designs, such as gyroid and primitive lattices.
In this study, an experimental rig was developed to analyze the heat transfer and pressure drop of these
cellular structures. The setup uses an alumina tube where air flows through the lattice, which is heated from
the inside by a cylindrical heating cartridge. Tests were conducted with electrical power ranging from 85 to
150 W and air flow rates between 10 and 150 Nl/min. Preliminary results are presented in terms of air outlet
temperature, pressure drop, and a thermal efficiency parameter.
These early results highlight the potential of SiOC structures for heat transfer enhancement but also indicate
the importance of managing heat losses within the experimental setup. This study serves as the basis for a
deeper analysis of fluid flow and heat transfer in cellular materials. Future work will focus on improving the
insulation of the test rig and using a Figure of Merit to better compare different designs. The final goal is to
perform pore-scale optimization of the cellular morphologies to improve performance for energy and space
applications.
| Country | Italy |
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