Thermal hydraulic performance of 10 PPI aluminium foam as alternative for louvered fins in an HVAC heat exchanger

► A louvered fin and metal foam heat exchanger are compared in a wind tunnel. ► Louvered fins perform better than 10 PPI aluminium foam at air velocities >2 m/s. ► The impact of contact resistance on the foam heat exchanger is high, up to 70%. ► Purely convective, the foam heat exchanger outperformed the louvered finned one. ► A brazed foam heat exchanger showed similar results as a louvered finned one.