The development of a volume-averaged entropy-generation function for nonequilibrium heat transfer in high-conductivity porous foams

The study of entropy-generation characteristics is of great utility in the field of enhanced heat transfer. Previously, entropy-generation studies involving porous media have been restricted to local thermal equilibrium conditions; however, this assumption is not applicable to high-conductivity foams. In this work, a volume-averaged entropy-generation function suitable for use in the analysis of high-conductivity foams is developed for the condition of local thermal nonequilibrium. The constraints imposed in the derivation are reasonable for a wide variety of realistic scenarios. The derived model is employed in the analysis of a simple enhanced heat transfer device.