DETERMINATION OF THE FIXED BED WALL HEAT TRANSFER COEFFICIENT USING COMPUTATIONAL FLUID DYNAMICS

Abstract

Fluid flow and heat transfer in a fixed bed of tube-to-particle-diameter ratio 2.14 is modeled by an arrangement of three staggered spheres in a tube. The problem is solved numerically by a finite element method applied to the three-dimensional incompressible Navier-Stokes equations and the energy equation. Results are obtained for Reynolds numbers in the range 25-101, with a Prandtl number of 0.72 and particle conductivities in the range 0.25-48.0 W/ (m K) Watt heat transfer coefficients obtained from the calculated temperature profiles are in good agreement with values predicted by a model-matching theory using correlations based on experimental measurements,

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Notes on contributors

Anthony G. Dixon

Address correspondence to Professor Anthony G. Dixon, Department of Chemical Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 100 Institute Road, Worcester, MA 01609, USA.