Mechanical Engineering Commons^™

A Novel Approach To Multiphysics Modeling Of Heat And Mass Transfer In Porous Media, Seth Allen Pemberton

Masters Theses

This thesis aims to investigate conjugate heat and mass transfer in porous media with an emphasis on textiles. Both hygroscopic materials, those that absorb water vapor, and non-hygroscopic materials are examined. A model was developed that utilizes COMSOL’s equation-based partial differential equation (PDE) interface which allows the user to input any equation(s) to be solved. By the use of experimental and numerical data each part of the model, i.e. flow field, gas diffusion, convection and vapor absorption, is verified. The accuracy of the equation-based unsteady flow field is verified by modeling the flow over a circular cylinder and extracting the …