Computational Fluid Dynamics Studies of Gas-Solid Flows in a Horizontal Pipe, Subjected to an Adiabatic Wall, Using a Variable Gas Properties Eulerian Model

Abstract

Abstract In the present paper, a variable gas properties Eulerian model is employed to model the gas-solid heat transfer in a three-dimensional horizontal pipe, subjected to an adiabatic wall. The numerical model has been validated with the benchmark experimental data and other theoretical results available in the literature, and found satisfactory agreements. Moreover, the numerical heat transfer results considering the variable gas properties (i. e. density, dynamic viscosity, thermal conductivity, and specific heat) and constant gas properties are compared. It is noticed that the variable gas properties significantly affect the heat transfer, when compared to the constant gas properties. Therefore, the consideration of constant gas properties for the prediction of heat transfer may not be suitable in gas-solid flows, subjected to an adiabatic wall. Moreover, the temperature profiles, solid volume fraction profiles, and gas-solid Nusselt number are discussed. Finally, the pressure drop prediction with respect to the solid loading ratio is studied, and found that the pressure drop slightly decreases with increasing the solid loading ratio.