Total and gas convective heat transfer from a vertical tube to a mixed particle gas—solid fluidized bed

Abstract

Experimental data were obtained for the average gas convective and total heat transfer coefficients for a vertical tube immersed in an air-fluidized bed of narrowly as well as widely distributed particle size mixtures. The gas convective heat transfer coefficient was determined by measuring the rate of mass loss from a vertical naphthalene tube 0.0262 m in diameter and 0.1012 m in length and using a heat and mass transfer analogy. These data were obtained at a bed temperature of about 330 K and superficial velocity of 0.1 to 1.1 m/s. The total heat transfer coefficients were measured under identical conditions using an electrically heated vertical tube. The total heat transfer coefficient decreased with an increase in particle diameter from 0.237 to 1.35 mm. The addition of fines was found to increase the total heat transfer coefficient. The gas convective heat transfer coefficient increased with increase in particle size and fluidizing velocity. The dependence of the gas convective heat transfer coefficient on gas velocity was more pronounced for large particles. The addition of fines resulted in decrease in gas convective coefficient. The relative contribution of the gas convective component of heat transfer coefficient was found to increase with increase in particle diameter. Its dependency on fluidizing velocity was found to be more complex. The experimental data were compared with the existing heat transfer models and correlations.