Nano-Iron Oxide Coating for Enhanced Heat Transfer in Gas–Solid Fluidized Bed Systems

Abstract

This study explores using iron oxide coatings on glass beads to improve heat transfer efficiency in fluidized bed reactors. Techniques such as BET surface area analysis, SEM imaging, and X-ray diffraction were used to characterize the coated beads. Results showed the successful creation of a crystalline iron layer on the beads’ surface and increased thermal conductivity, especially at elevated temperatures. The study also quantified the impact of air surface velocity and heating power on the heat transfer coefficient, revealing substantial improvements, especially at higher velocities. It was found that the heat transfer coefficient for 600 µm glass beads increases significantly from 336.4 W/m2·K to 390.3 W/m2·K when the velocity is 0.27 m/s and the heating flux is 125 W. This demonstrates the effectiveness of the iron oxide coating in improving heat transfer. The results of this study emphasize the efficacy of iron oxide coatings in augmenting heat transmission characteristics, particularly in fluidized bed reactor.