To　explore　the　heat　and　mass　transfer　characteristics　during　phase　change,　a　well-designed　test　rig　with　melting　front　visualization　was　designed　and　fabricated.　The　results　show　that　the　different　inclination　angles　have　a　great　influence　on　the　melting　process　of　pure　paraffin.　Compared　with　the　60-degree　inclination,　the　full　melting　time　of　pure　paraffin　at　30-degree　obliquity　decreased　by　25.30%.　The　visualization　demonstrated　an　inclined　melting　front,　which　indicated　the　contribution　of　local　natural　convection　in　the　fluid　phase.　However,　there　seems　to　be　little　influence　of　inclination　angles　for　the　melting　process　of　paraffin　embedded　in　metal　foam.　Local　thermal　non-equilibrium　between　metallic　ligaments　and　the　saturating　PCM　(paraffin)　was　experimentally　observed.　This　revealed　the　feasibility　of　two-equation　model　for　modelling　the　phase　change　process　in　open-cell　metal　foam.　Copyright　©　2018　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.