Accurate spectral radiative transfer simulation and property prediction are basic for improving the performance of combined collecting material in the field of solar photothermal utilization. In this work, the combined material composed of open-cell nickel foam and TiO2 nanofluid is proposed, and the various multi-scale structures are modeled. The realistic structures of nickel foams with different porosities and PPI are reconstructed with the μ-CT technique, meanwhile, the spherical nanoparticles with different radii are considered separately for modeling the structures of nanofluids with different particle sizes and volume fractions. A numerical simulation process is introduced for achieving the across-scale analysis, with the FDTD method and the MCRT method applied jointly. The numerical analysis integrating micro/nano-scale and macroscale radiative transfer processes is conducted for predicting the spectral radiative properties of nanofluid and combined material, with the complex size characteristics of nanoparticle, nanofluid and porous metal foam considered. Then, in the discussed waveband from 300 nm to 1000 nm, the absorption portions of different components are compared by changing the structural parameters at different scales. The effects of macro-scale and micro/nano-scale structural parameters on the spectral properties are analyzed. It can be observed that the extinction process inside nanofluid can be regulated by changing the particle size and volume fraction. Besides, in the discussed waveband, when the combined material with thickness exceeding 10 mm is applied, almost all the incident solar radiation can be absorbed. At last, the absorption performance is contributed by both nanofluid and solid foam, and the occupied portions of different components change with increasing wavelength. The absorption portions are affected by porosity, PPI, ligament surface morphology, nanoparticle size and volume fraction together.
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