Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
663473 International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer 2006 12 Pages PDF
Abstract

The effective thermal conductivity in the volume-averaged temperature equation for the dual-scale porous media is estimated numerically. A finite-element simulation of a steady Newtonian flow in the unit cell of an idealized dual-scale porous medium is carried out and the relevant component of the effective thermal conductivity tensor is estimated from the resultant temperature and velocity fields. It is discovered that the conductivity is a strong function of Péclet number as well as inter-tow spacing, but is insensitive to the rate of tow wetting or the heat-flux from tows. We also conclude that the conductivity remains unchanged in the saturated as well as unsaturated flow regimes in dual-scale porous media.

Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering Chemical Engineering Fluid Flow and Transfer Processes
Authors
, ,