The paper explores the use of open-celled metal foams as compact heat exchangers, exploiting convective cooling. An analytical model is developed for model foams with simple cubic unit cells consist-ing of heated slender cylinders, based on existing heat transfer data on convective crossflow through cylin-der banks. A foam-filled channel having constant wall temperatures is analyzed to obtain the temperature distribution inside the channel as a function of foam density, cell size and other pertinent heat transfer par-ameters. Two characteristic length scales of importance to the problem are discussed: the minimum channel length required for heating the fluid to its goal temperature and the thermal entry length beyond which the transfer of heat between fluid and channel wall assumes a constant coecient. The overall heat transfer coecient of the heat exchanging system is calculated, and the pressure drop experienced by the fluid flow obtained. These results are used to analyze and guide the design of optimum foam structures that would maximize heat transfer per unit pumping power. Two examples are given to demonstrate the applicability of the analytical model: heat sinks for high power electronic devices and multi-layered heat exchangers for aeronautical applications. The present model perhaps oversimpli