Unsteady heat transfer in porous fiber composite cylinders with compressible fluid.

• Thermal modeling of porous fiber composite with compressible fluid is proposed. • Compressive effect of the fluid phase on porous fiber composite is demonstrated. • Effect of heating sources on the thermal behavior of the materials is uncovered. The study of heat transfer behavior in porous fiber composite cylinders is vital for optimizing efficient thermal management, insulation materials, and heating equipment design, with applications spanning fields like materials drying, atomization equipment, and aerospace. However, the existing research in this area faces challenges including inadequate experimental data and a lack of clarity regarding fluid-porous material interactions, particularly under the influence of compressible fluids, which demand a more nuanced investigation. This study has developed a model to depict the unsteady heat transfer behavior of porous fiber composite cylinders containing compressible fluid. Consequently, a momentum equation describing the gradual diffusion of compressible fluid within the porous medium is established based on the Darcy-Brinkman-Forchheimer equation. For the purposes of this investigation, the air is treated as a compressible fluid. Concurrently, the corresponding energy equation is formulated, assuming Local Thermal Equilibrium. Ultimately, the devised model is solved by employing the finite volume method. Additionally, a temperature measurement experiment is designed to furnish boundary conditions and verify the model's reliability. The findings indicate that omitting the influence of compressible fluid yields a maximum predicted temperature deviation of approximately 5.6 K at a heating temperature of 420 K. The temperature deviation gradually expands as the heating temperature rises. Furthermore, the parametric analysis is conducted to investigate the impact of porosity, thermal conductivity, geometric size, and the type of heat source on the non-steady heat transfer behavior of composite cylinders. This novel model contributes to a more accurate prediction of the unsteady temperature distribution within porous fiber composite structure cylinders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]