Given their intermittent nature, the implementation of renewable energies requires the design of efficient energy storage systems. Heat storage using solid-liquid phase change materials (PCMs) allows to benefit from renewable energies fully and contributes to the thermal management of heat emitting systems. PCMs possess high energy densities. However, the use of these materials is penalized by their low thermal conductivity, which limits the heat storage capacity. A solution to improve their thermal conductivity is the use of metal foams with high porosity. This chapter aims to study the thermos-physical behavior of PCM-metal foam composites. Paraffins RT27 and RT35HC were selected. The first part focuses on the thermophysical characterization of pure PCM and PCM-metal foam composites. Paraffins RT27 and RT35HC were incorporated into high-porosity aluminum and nickel foams. The preparation protocol carried out in the laboratory produced good results. Thermal conductivity measurements show that using aluminum and nickel foams can lead to intensifications reaching 1751% and 666%, respectively. The experimental thermal conductivities were then compared to theoretical models from the literature. The paraffin-metal foam composites were characterized via the hot disk technique and the TGHPT. In part 2, the impact of metal foam characteristics on phase change dynamics of the PCM incorporated in the metal foam is explored through computational and experimental examinations. Two types of storage conditions (continuous and sinusoidal) have been analyzed. The volumetric averaging technique is employed in mathematical modeling, utilizing the Brinkman-Forchheimer equation and the LTNE model that involves two-energy equations. The enthalpy-porosity method models solid-liquid phase change of PCM. Numerical findings are verified through comparison with empirical data. Results indicate that the melting and solidification of PCMs are substantially impacted by metal foam morphology and materials. Furthermore, the analyses demonstrate that sinusoidal heating decreases melting time.
