A physical and mathematical model to describe the melting process in foam-filled ice cold-plate was developed. The natural convection of liquid water was taken into account. The melting processes of ice cold-plates filled with open-cell polyurethane foams and copper foams were simulated. The principles of the melting rates

temperature distributions

interface movements were analyzed. Comparisons were made between the model predictions and experimental data. The influences of foams pore parameters to ice melting rates were confirmed. The results indicate that foams with low thermal conductivity efficiently extends the melting time. The time increases obviously with the decrease of pore density and increases slowly with the increase of porosity. In contrast

the foams with high thermal conductivity effectively improve the temperature distribution and accelerate the melting rate. The rate increases obviously with the decrease of porosity and increases slightly with the decrease of pore density.