Thermal analysis of porous medium with ellipsoidal pores using a homogenization method

Effective thermal conductivity including radiation is analyzed using a homogenization method. This method can precisely represent the microstructure of a porous medium with ellipsoidal pores. Here, the effects of parameters such as porosity, pore shape, pore distribution, and temperature of the porous medium on the conductivity are estimated to clarify the mechanisms in complex pore structures. For example, heat transfer by radiation does not dominate if the medium has pores of less than 1 mm in size. Moreover, the anisotropy of the effective thermal conductivity is found to depend on temperature, pore shape, pore size, and pore distribution.