Transport in Permeable Media

Within TPM, we pursue two research lines: the physical chemistry of materials for thermal energy storage and transport and phase changes in technical porous media. Both of these research lines are based on studying the motion of molecules through porous materials and the interaction of these molecules with the solid matrix, a process that can lead to phase changes. For instance, we are investigating hydration reactions of crystalline solids that are accompanied by an energy discharge. Another research focus is the way phase changes, such as boiling and crystallization, can exert pressure on the porous matrix that hosts them and may give rise to failure.

Because permeable media are mostly not transparent, the use of optical experimental tools for studying transport and phase changes in these media has its limits. TPM is one of the few groups in the world able to apply advanced imaging techniques like NMR imaging and CT to extreme challenging topics in the field of materials science. A nice example is our research on fierce boiling in porous media under extreme heating conditions (mimicking fire). Visualization and quantification of these processes by our experiments opens the door towards reliable modeling. For that reason, TPM owns and manages the Darcy Lab, which hosts a collection of unique NMR and CT facilities for porous media.