Numerical Investigation on Optimizing the Performance of Heat Transfer in Vertical Packed Bed at the Particle Scale

Abstract

Enhancing the heat transfer efficiency in the vertical packed bed is deemed as significant focus issue and strategy. Heat transfer process in the vertical packed bed, granular flow profiles have obviously positive effect on the dynamics of heat transport between gas and solid matter. It is quite important to know the mechanism of various granular flow pattern related to these performances of heat transfer phenomena. In this study, discrete element numerical models coupled with continuous fluid are developed and proposed to optimize the effect of uniformity of granular flow on performance of heat transfer process. The coefficient of variation is introduced as quantitative measure of the uniformity of granular flow layer. The relation between granular flow profiles and the performance of heat transfer is verified by a combined numerical approach. The increase of uniformity of granular layer has a positive effect on improving of the efficient inter-phase heat transfer. The study also quantitative unfolds the efficient inter-phase heat transfer greatly enhanced by structural modification. The quantitative analysis for contribution of structural and operational modification to improve the efficient heat transfer is also performed.