Heat transfer and pressure drop characteristics of wet air flow in metal foam under dehumidifying conditions: numerical model and experimental validation.

In the present study, the heat transfer and pressure drop characteristics of wet air flow in metal foams under dehumidifying conditions were investigated numerically. The numerical models of water droplet formation, growth and movement were developed; the mass transfer rate model during droplet formation process was obtained based on the heterogeneous nucleation rate and critical nucleation radius of droplet; the mass transfer rate model for droplet growth was developed based on the species conservation of water vapor on phase interface between the droplet and the moist air; the contact angle model of the droplet was developed based on the force analysis of droplets on the ligament. Both the models of mass transfer rate contact angle were reflected in the continuity, momentum and energy conservation equations as the mass source term and momentum term. The model prediction accuracy was verified based on the existing experimental data in the literature.