Heat Transfer in Porous Media – From Pore Level to System Level
Monday, September 27 at 3:00 PM in RUCH 313
Abstract
This talk explores heat transfer in porous media at a range of scales. At the pore scale, experimental MRI results of heat transfer and fluid behavior are discussed for both free and forced convection. A new MRI technique allows for the energy in the bed to be quantified along with the pore scale velocity field. Fluid phases include liquid, sub-critical, near-critical, and supercritical. Initial DEM-CFD results at the pore scale are consistent with the experiments. The talk then considers packed beds at the macroscale, such as those used in thermal energy storage. New techniques for charging and discharging a packed bed for energy storage are discussed, including a system where fluid flows radially from the center to the wall inside the bed, potentially achieving higher thermal efficiency and lower pressure drop.
About the speaker
Dr. Ryan Anderson is an Associate Professor in Mechanical Engineering at Montana State University. His research is in heat transfer and fluid flow for applications in clean energy. These interests include fuel cells, flow in porous media, multiphase flow, reacting systems, and uses of various heat transfer fluids. He was also the 2021 recipient of the NACOE Excellence in Teaching award.