Thermal Energy Storage in Porous Media
Design and Applications
- 1st Edition - March 29, 2025
- Imprint: Elsevier
- Authors: Xiaohu Yang, Ming-Jia Li, Jinyue Yan
- Language: English
- Paperback ISBN:9 7 8 - 0 - 4 4 3 - 1 6 0 9 6 - 7
- eBook ISBN:9 7 8 - 0 - 4 4 3 - 1 6 0 9 7 - 4
Thermal Energy Storage in Porous Media: Design and Applications introduces the new design concepts and operation strategies for the core part of heat and mass transfer in thermal e… Read more
Purchase options
Institutional subscription on ScienceDirect
Request a sales quoteThermal Energy Storage in Porous Media: Design and Applications introduces the new design concepts and operation strategies for the core part of heat and mass transfer in thermal energy storage tanks. With a strong focus on design, operation and optimization, the book presents the latest advances in thermal energy storage. Opening with an introduction to latent heat thermal storage, the book then discusses porous media enhanced thermal storage classifications, methods and characterizations. Subsequent topics include energy charging/discharging system design, numerical simulation models and verification, and an analysis of various melting/solidification laws.
Finishing with a detailed presentation of applications and containing case studies and real-world examples throughout, this is an essential read for graduate students, researchers and engineers interested in thermal engineering, energy systems, and renewable energy.
- Presents the emerging design concept of using porous media, such as metal foam, for heat transfer enhancement
- Details mechanisms and processes for the transient phenomena of thermal energy storage/release process in porous media
- Describes comparable analysis and modeling methods for the transient problem, including the volume-averaged method, pore-scale reconstruction approach, and the Lattice Boltzmann method
Graduate students, researchers and engineers interested in thermal engineering, energy systems, and renewable energy
1. AN INTRODUCTION TO LATENT HEAT THERMAL STORAGE
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Thermal energy storage
1.2.1 Sensible heat storage
1.2.2 Latent heat storage
1.2.3 Chemical heat storage
1.2.4 Comparisons
1.3 Classification of phase change materials
1.3.1 Organic and inorganic phase change materials
1.3.2 Temperature range for heat storage
1.4 Methods of enhancing heat transfer of phase change materials
1.4.1 Fin type enhancement
1.4.2 Nano additive
1.4.3 Porous media support
1.4.4 Hybrids of additives
1.5. Closure
- References
2. POROUS MEDIA ENHANCED THERMAL STORAGE
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Classification of porous media for enhancing phase change
2.2.1 Metal foam
2.2.2 Carbon foam
2.2.3 Graphite foam
2.2.4 Expanded graphite
2.3 Fabrication routine on metal foam
2.3.1 Melt foaming method
2.3.2 Powder sintering method
2.3.3 Sintering and dissolution method
2.3.4 Friction processing method
2.3.5 3D printing
2.4 Characterization on metal foam
2.4.1 Metal foam
2.4.2 Carbon foam
2.4.3 Graphite foam
2.4.4 Expanded graphite
2.5 Fabrication on composite phase change material with metal foam
2.6 Advantages of porous media as phase change enhancement method
2.7 Thermophysical properties of composite phase change material with metal foam
2.7.1 Effective thermal conductivity
2.7.2 Specific heat and density
2.8 Closure
- References
3. ENERGY CHARGING/DISCHARGING SYSTEM DESIGN AND EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS ON A COMPOSITE PHASE CHANGE MATERIAL
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Charging/Discharging System design
3.3 Experimental Uncertainty Analysis
3.4 Experimental procedures and schemes
3.5 Experimental Results Discussion
3.5.1 Simplification of dimensions
3.5.2 Propagation of solid-liquid phase interface
3.5.3 Melting fraction
3.5.4 Temperature response
3.5.5 Temperature distribution
3.6 Closure
- References
4. NUMERICAL SIMULATION MODEL AND VERIFICATION
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Theories of modelling phase change heat transfer
4.3 Volume average method for porous media
4.4 Modelling fluid transport in porous media
4.4.1 Permeability
4.4.2 Inertial coefficient
4.4.3 Pressure drop
4.5 Modelling thermal transport in porous media
4.5.1 Heat conduction
4.5.2 Thermal dispersion coefficient
4.5.3 Interstitial heat transfer coefficient
4.6 Pore-scale simulation
4.6.1 Reconstruction of porous structure
4.6.2 Governing equations
4.7 Numerical procedure
4.8 Model verification
4.8.1 Comparison of temperature
4.8.2 Comparison of liquid fraction
4.9 Case study on melting of a composite phase change material in an enclosure
4.9.1 Solid-liquid interface
4.9.2 Temperature field
4.9.3 Velocity field
4.9.4 Heat transfer performance
4.10 Closure
- References
5. MELTING/SOLIDIFICATION LAW OF AXIAL-GRADIENT STRUCTURE IN A VERTICAL THERMAL STORAGE TANK
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Melting/solidification with the axial-gradient porosity
5.2.1 Design on the LHTES unit with filled by graded metal foam
5.2.2 Phase interface evolution
5.2.3 Liquid fraction
5.2.4 Temperature field and response
5.2.5 Velocity distribution
5.2.6 Heat storage capacity
5.2.7 Entropy generation
5.3 Melting/solidification with the axial-gradient pore density
5.3.1 LHTES unit design
5.3.2 Evolution of interface and liquid fraction
5.3.3 Field of temperature and velocity
5.3.4 Wall heat flux and heat storage
5.3.5 Entropy generation
5.4 Optimization on axial-gradient porosity
5.5 Closure
- References
6. MELTING/SOLIDIFICATION LAW OF RADIAL-GRADIENT STRUCTURE IN A VERTICAL THERMAL STORAGE TANK
6.1 Introduction
6.2 Melting/solidification characteristics with the radial-gradient porosity
6.2.1 Design on the gradient in porosity in radial direction
6.2.2 Propagation of solid-liquid interface
6.2.3 Evolution of liquid fraction
6.2.4 Temperature history
6.2.5 Velocity field
6.2.6 Heat transfer and storage capacity
6.2.7 Entropy generation
6.3 Melting/solidification characteristics with the radial-gradient pore density
6.3.1 Gradient design on pore density
6.3.2 Evolution of liquid fraction and energy storage
6.3.3 Response of temperature and free convection
6.3.4 Entropy generation
6.4 Optimization on porosity distribution
6.5 Comparison on energy charging/discharging efficiency for axial-gradient and radial-gradient
6.5.1 Melting and solidification rate
6.5.2 Complete phase change time
6.5.3 Energy storage and release efficiency
6.6 Closure
- References
7. MELTING/SOLIDIFICATION LAW OF CROSS-GRADIENT STRUCTURE IN A VERTICAL THERMAL STORAGE TANK
7.1 Introduction
7.2 Melting/solidification characteristics with the cross-gradient porosity
7.2.1 Design on the cross-gradient in porosity
7.2.2 Evolution of liquid fraction and energy storage capacity
7.2.3 Transient solid-liquid interface and temperature field
7.2.4 Temperature response
7.2.5 Entropy generation
7.3 Melting/solidification characteristics with the cross-gradient pore density
7.3.1 Cross-gradient design on pore density
7.3.2 Influence of cross-gradient on liquid fraction and energy storage
7.3.3 Temperature and velocity field
7.3.4 Entropy generation
7.4 Optimization on the cross-gradient distribution
7.5 Closure
- References
8. MELTING/SOLIDIFICATION LAW OF RADIAL-GRADIENT STRUCTURE IN A HORIZONTAL THERMAL STORAGE TANK
8.1 Introduction
8.2 Melting/solidification with radial-gradient porosity
8.2.1 Design on the radial-gradient porosity
8.2.2 Evolution of solid-liquid interface
8.2.3 Liquid fraction and energy storage
8.2.4 Temperature and velocity development
8.2.5 Entropy generation
8.3 Melting/solidification features with radial-gradient pore density
8.3.1 Design of gradient in pore density
8.3.2 Liquid fraction and phase interface
8.3.3 Temperature history and response
8.3.4 Heat transfer and energy storage capacity
8.3.5 Entropy generation
8.4 Optimization of radial-gradient porosity
8.5 Comparison on energy charging/discharging efficiency for horizontal and vertical gradient
8.5.1 Melting and solidification rate
8.5.2 Complete phase change time
8.5.3 Energy storage and release efficiency
8.6 Closure
- References
9. APPLICATIONS OF METAL FOAM ENHANCED THERMAL ENERGY STORAGE FOR DISTRICT HEATING
9.1 Introduction
9.2 Latent heat storage in district heating
9.3 Multi units for thermal energy storage tank
9.4 Mobilized thermal energy storage system and application
9.5 Economic evaluation
9.6 Comparison with other heat supply methods
9.7 Closure
- References
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Thermal energy storage
1.2.1 Sensible heat storage
1.2.2 Latent heat storage
1.2.3 Chemical heat storage
1.2.4 Comparisons
1.3 Classification of phase change materials
1.3.1 Organic and inorganic phase change materials
1.3.2 Temperature range for heat storage
1.4 Methods of enhancing heat transfer of phase change materials
1.4.1 Fin type enhancement
1.4.2 Nano additive
1.4.3 Porous media support
1.4.4 Hybrids of additives
1.5. Closure
- References
2. POROUS MEDIA ENHANCED THERMAL STORAGE
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Classification of porous media for enhancing phase change
2.2.1 Metal foam
2.2.2 Carbon foam
2.2.3 Graphite foam
2.2.4 Expanded graphite
2.3 Fabrication routine on metal foam
2.3.1 Melt foaming method
2.3.2 Powder sintering method
2.3.3 Sintering and dissolution method
2.3.4 Friction processing method
2.3.5 3D printing
2.4 Characterization on metal foam
2.4.1 Metal foam
2.4.2 Carbon foam
2.4.3 Graphite foam
2.4.4 Expanded graphite
2.5 Fabrication on composite phase change material with metal foam
2.6 Advantages of porous media as phase change enhancement method
2.7 Thermophysical properties of composite phase change material with metal foam
2.7.1 Effective thermal conductivity
2.7.2 Specific heat and density
2.8 Closure
- References
3. ENERGY CHARGING/DISCHARGING SYSTEM DESIGN AND EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS ON A COMPOSITE PHASE CHANGE MATERIAL
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Charging/Discharging System design
3.3 Experimental Uncertainty Analysis
3.4 Experimental procedures and schemes
3.5 Experimental Results Discussion
3.5.1 Simplification of dimensions
3.5.2 Propagation of solid-liquid phase interface
3.5.3 Melting fraction
3.5.4 Temperature response
3.5.5 Temperature distribution
3.6 Closure
- References
4. NUMERICAL SIMULATION MODEL AND VERIFICATION
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Theories of modelling phase change heat transfer
4.3 Volume average method for porous media
4.4 Modelling fluid transport in porous media
4.4.1 Permeability
4.4.2 Inertial coefficient
4.4.3 Pressure drop
4.5 Modelling thermal transport in porous media
4.5.1 Heat conduction
4.5.2 Thermal dispersion coefficient
4.5.3 Interstitial heat transfer coefficient
4.6 Pore-scale simulation
4.6.1 Reconstruction of porous structure
4.6.2 Governing equations
4.7 Numerical procedure
4.8 Model verification
4.8.1 Comparison of temperature
4.8.2 Comparison of liquid fraction
4.9 Case study on melting of a composite phase change material in an enclosure
4.9.1 Solid-liquid interface
4.9.2 Temperature field
4.9.3 Velocity field
4.9.4 Heat transfer performance
4.10 Closure
- References
5. MELTING/SOLIDIFICATION LAW OF AXIAL-GRADIENT STRUCTURE IN A VERTICAL THERMAL STORAGE TANK
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Melting/solidification with the axial-gradient porosity
5.2.1 Design on the LHTES unit with filled by graded metal foam
5.2.2 Phase interface evolution
5.2.3 Liquid fraction
5.2.4 Temperature field and response
5.2.5 Velocity distribution
5.2.6 Heat storage capacity
5.2.7 Entropy generation
5.3 Melting/solidification with the axial-gradient pore density
5.3.1 LHTES unit design
5.3.2 Evolution of interface and liquid fraction
5.3.3 Field of temperature and velocity
5.3.4 Wall heat flux and heat storage
5.3.5 Entropy generation
5.4 Optimization on axial-gradient porosity
5.5 Closure
- References
6. MELTING/SOLIDIFICATION LAW OF RADIAL-GRADIENT STRUCTURE IN A VERTICAL THERMAL STORAGE TANK
6.1 Introduction
6.2 Melting/solidification characteristics with the radial-gradient porosity
6.2.1 Design on the gradient in porosity in radial direction
6.2.2 Propagation of solid-liquid interface
6.2.3 Evolution of liquid fraction
6.2.4 Temperature history
6.2.5 Velocity field
6.2.6 Heat transfer and storage capacity
6.2.7 Entropy generation
6.3 Melting/solidification characteristics with the radial-gradient pore density
6.3.1 Gradient design on pore density
6.3.2 Evolution of liquid fraction and energy storage
6.3.3 Response of temperature and free convection
6.3.4 Entropy generation
6.4 Optimization on porosity distribution
6.5 Comparison on energy charging/discharging efficiency for axial-gradient and radial-gradient
6.5.1 Melting and solidification rate
6.5.2 Complete phase change time
6.5.3 Energy storage and release efficiency
6.6 Closure
- References
7. MELTING/SOLIDIFICATION LAW OF CROSS-GRADIENT STRUCTURE IN A VERTICAL THERMAL STORAGE TANK
7.1 Introduction
7.2 Melting/solidification characteristics with the cross-gradient porosity
7.2.1 Design on the cross-gradient in porosity
7.2.2 Evolution of liquid fraction and energy storage capacity
7.2.3 Transient solid-liquid interface and temperature field
7.2.4 Temperature response
7.2.5 Entropy generation
7.3 Melting/solidification characteristics with the cross-gradient pore density
7.3.1 Cross-gradient design on pore density
7.3.2 Influence of cross-gradient on liquid fraction and energy storage
7.3.3 Temperature and velocity field
7.3.4 Entropy generation
7.4 Optimization on the cross-gradient distribution
7.5 Closure
- References
8. MELTING/SOLIDIFICATION LAW OF RADIAL-GRADIENT STRUCTURE IN A HORIZONTAL THERMAL STORAGE TANK
8.1 Introduction
8.2 Melting/solidification with radial-gradient porosity
8.2.1 Design on the radial-gradient porosity
8.2.2 Evolution of solid-liquid interface
8.2.3 Liquid fraction and energy storage
8.2.4 Temperature and velocity development
8.2.5 Entropy generation
8.3 Melting/solidification features with radial-gradient pore density
8.3.1 Design of gradient in pore density
8.3.2 Liquid fraction and phase interface
8.3.3 Temperature history and response
8.3.4 Heat transfer and energy storage capacity
8.3.5 Entropy generation
8.4 Optimization of radial-gradient porosity
8.5 Comparison on energy charging/discharging efficiency for horizontal and vertical gradient
8.5.1 Melting and solidification rate
8.5.2 Complete phase change time
8.5.3 Energy storage and release efficiency
8.6 Closure
- References
9. APPLICATIONS OF METAL FOAM ENHANCED THERMAL ENERGY STORAGE FOR DISTRICT HEATING
9.1 Introduction
9.2 Latent heat storage in district heating
9.3 Multi units for thermal energy storage tank
9.4 Mobilized thermal energy storage system and application
9.5 Economic evaluation
9.6 Comparison with other heat supply methods
9.7 Closure
- References
- Edition: 1
- Published: March 29, 2025
- No. of pages (Paperback): 250
- Imprint: Elsevier
- Language: English
- Paperback ISBN: 9780443160967
- eBook ISBN: 9780443160974
XY
Xiaohu Yang
Dr. Prof. Xiaohu Yang is a professor at the School of Human Settlement and Civil Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, China. He is the Subject Editor of Elsevier’s Advances in Applied Energy and Guest Editors of Applied Energy and Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments. Prof. Yang has published more than 100 journal papers in the field of thermal energy storage and thermal transport in porous media.
Affiliations and expertise
School of Human Settlement and Civil Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, ChinaML
Ming-Jia Li
Dr. Prof. Ming-Jia Li, Professor in School of Mechanical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, China. She is the associate editor for Applied Thermal Engineering and editorial board members of many prestigious journals in energy field. Prof. Li has published more than 100 journal papers in the field of solar thermal energy utilization, thermodynamics and economic analysis on large-scale energy systems.
Affiliations and expertise
Professor Ming-Jia Li, School of Mechanical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, China.JY
Jinyue Yan
Dr. Prof. Jinyue Yan, Fellow of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts, KTH-Royal Institute of Technology and Mälardalen University, Sweden and now Chair Professor of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Prof. Yan is the EiC of Elsevier’s journal Advances in Applied Energy and CellPress's journal Nexus. He has served as the editorial board members for many prestigious journals such as Energy, Energy Conversion and Management, Journal of Energy Storage and etc. Prof. Yan has published more than 400 journal in the field of thermal energy utilization, renewable energy systems and CO2 mitigation.
Affiliations and expertise
Chair Professor of Energy and Buildings, The Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityRead Thermal Energy Storage in Porous Media on ScienceDirect