This　study　investigates　the　heat　transfer　in　metal　foams　assuming　that　all　the　foam　cells　are　cubic.　An　improved　model　for　the　volumetric　convective　heat　transfer　coefficient　of　metal　foam　was　obtained　by　considering　the　convective　heat　transfer　and　the　thermal　conduction　in　the　connected　foam　ligaments.　Numerical　simulations　of　a　metal　foam-filled　channel　were　performed　using　the　local　thermal　non-equilibrium　model　to　evaluate　the　model.　The　theoretical　and　experimental　data　agree　better　with　the　present　model　than　with　other　models.　The　velocity　gradient　near　the　metal　foam-filled　channel　wall　is　greater　than　in　an　empty　channel,　with　the　wall　boundary　layer　becoming　thinner.　The　temperature　differences　between　the　fluid　and　solid　phases　are　predicted　by　the　model　with　the　pore　density　affecting　the　volumetric　convective　heat　transfer　coefficient　more　than　the　porosity.　The　volumetric　convective　heat　transfer　coefficient　significantly　increases　as　the　pore　density　increases.　However,　the　relationship　between　the　volumetric　convective　heat　transfer　coefficient　and　the　porosity　is　not　linear.　As　the　porosity　increases,　the　volumetric　convective　heat　transfer　coefficient　first　increases　and　then　decreases.　The　effect　of　the　solid　thermal　conductivity　on　the　volumetric　convective　heat　transfer　coefficient　has　an　upper　limit　with　a　critical　value　of　the　solid　thermal　conductivity　for　the　present　conditions.　©　2018　Taylor　&　Francis　Group,　LLC