Numerical investigation of gravity-driven particle flow along the trapezoidal corrugated plate for a moving packed bed heat exchanger

Abstract

A heat transfer model based on the discrete element method was developed to investigate the effect of the trapezoidal corrugated plate on heat transfer. Particles flow along a trapezoidal corrugated plate unit (TCPU) were compared with that along a flat plate, and the appropriate base angles of the trapezoidal bulge were searched. In the upstream region of the trapezoidal bulge, the contact resistance of the TCPU decreases by 44% compared with that of the PLATE. In the side and downstream regions, the trapezoidal bulge enhances the mixing between particles, destroys the development of the temperature boundary layer and strengthens the heat transfer (average heat transfer rate increased by 14%). The heat transfer rate of adding the trapezoidal bulge is better than reducing the channel width at higher mass flow rates (> 1.07 g/s). When outlet velocity is 1 mm/s, base angles between 45°- 60° are beneficial for the heat transfer.