CONDUCTION HEAT TRANSFER THROUGH SOLID IN POROUS MATERIALS: A COMPARATIVE STUDY BY FINITE-ELEMENT SIMULATIONS AND EFFECTIVE MEDIUM APPROXIMATIONS

• DOI: 10.1615/computthermalscien.2021035598
• Publication Date: 2021-06-08T17:50:46Z
• Authors: Amit Rai; Tianli Feng; Daniel Howard; Diana Hun; Mingkan Zhang; Hongyu Zhou; Som S. Shrestha
• Keywords: Multiphysics

The development of insulation materials with low effective thermal conductivity is essential for energy savings in various applications, including buildings, food services, pipe insulation, and refrigeration. Such can be developed by using micro- or nanoporous structures, as well low-thermal gases and/or reduced pressure. A variety medium approximation (EMA) models have been to study transport through solid porous structures. However, many cases, the impacts porosity on conduction are not predicted EMA because assumptions made simplification. Furthermore, results vary a factor up 1.5, depending morphology pores. Hence, proper guidance needed choose appropriate model given morphology. This work presents finite element method COMSOL Multiphysics software geometries, hollow cubes, overlapping spheres (normally stacked tightly packed), Voronoi compares those obtained from models. Simulation cubes structures matched Maxwell-Eucken Russell model. closely Bauer Glicksman fitting parameters. provides analyzing designing future.