The　heat　transfer　performance　of　most　cold　thermal　energy　storage　(CTES)　devices　is　limited　by　the　low　thermal　conductivity　of　phase　change　materials　(PCMs)　and　the　increase　in　the　thickness　of　PCMs.　A　comparative　work　was　performed　to　explore　the　heat　transfer　performance　of　CTES　systems　with　a　fin　structure　(Fin-CTES)　and　a　fin–foam　structure　(Fin–foam-CTES).　The　heat　transfer　performance,　temperature　distribution,　and　thermal　effectiveness　of　Fin-CTES　and　Fin–foam-CTES　at　different　inlet　temperatures　and　volume　flow　rates　of　heat　transfer　fluid　were　investigated　and　compared.　Results　demonstrated　that　the　overall　heat　transfer　performance　of　Fin–foam-CTES　is　better　than　that　of　Fin-CTES.　However,　compared　with　the　PCM　in　Fin-CTES,　that　in　Fin–foam-CTES　has　a　greater　degree　of　supercooling,　reaching　4.35　°C　at　the　maximum.　In　the　discharging　(melting)　process,　Fin-CTES　and　Fin–foam-CTES　have　almost　similar　heat　transfer　effectiveness,　in　which　the　maximum　difference　is　only　0.0107.　That　is,　the　enhanced　heat　transfer　effect　of　the　natural　convection　of　the　liquid　PCM　and　the　metal　foam　is　basically　the　same　during　the　discharging　process.　©　2023　Elsevier　Ltd