Heat transfer in cellulose-based aerogels: Analytical modelling and measurements

A simple analytical approach for estimating the total heat transfer inside new cellulose-based aerogels has been investigated. The model accounts for the characteristic solid matrix at the nanometric scale by using a cellular representation of the nanofoam porous structure. The radiation-conduction heat transfer is taken into account. Previous analytical correlation for the fluid phase is used to model the conduction heat transfer in gas. New analytical formulations based on mean free path theory combined with phonon tracking approach are proposed to model the conduction heat transfer in the solid phase at the nanometric scale. The contribution of radiation heat transfer is obtained from Rayleigh scattering approach combined to the Rosseland approximation. These analytical relations validated experimentally are expected to be useful for researchers aiming at developing new insulating organic aerogels since they permit to determine conduction-radiation equivalent conductivity as a function of cell dimensions, phonon and optical properties of cellulose. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.