Effective thermal conductivity for anisotropic, granular porous media using fractal concepts

Adrian S. Sabau, Y. X. Tao, G. Liu, G. Vidhuvalavan

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

15 Scopus citations

Abstract

Analytical correlations are derived for the effective thermal conductivity of anisotropic, Granular Porous Media (GPM). The correlations proposed, which can be apply in general to any porous media material, are used to determine the effective thermal conductivity of GPM that are formed by semi-cylindrical ice particles. Pictures of the cross-section of GPM provide digital data for measuring local fractal dimensions. Local fractal dimensions are used to determine an equivalent three-dimensional Representative Unit Cell (RUC) for the GPM considered1. A simplified analysis of heat conduction at the RUC level provide an analytical expression for the effective heat transfer coefficient. Estimates for the effective thermal conductivity by the use of our models are discussed and compared with various models known in literature. Finally, results for anisotropic thermal conductivities, which are obtained by the use of fractal correlations, are discussed.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)121-128
Number of pages8
JournalAmerican Society of Mechanical Engineers, Heat Transfer Division, (Publication) HTD
Volume349
StatePublished - 1997

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