Eddies, mixing and heat transfer in dense granular flows

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Rognon ◽  
T. Miller ◽  
I. Einav
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Granular Flows ◽  
Dense Granular Flows

Experimental Characterization of Heat Transfer to Vertical Dense Granular Flows Across Wide Temperature Range

2019 ◽  
Vol 141 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Megan F. Watkins ◽  
Richard D. Gould
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Heat Transfer Coefficient ◽  
Transfer Coefficient ◽  
Flow Rate ◽  
Convective Heat Transfer Coefficient ◽  
Granular Flows ◽  
Effect Of Temperature ◽  
Cylindrical Tubes ◽  
Operating Temperatures ◽  
Dense Granular Flows

Particle-based heat transfer fluids for concentrated solar power (CSP) tower applications offer a unique advantage over traditional fluids, as they have the potential to reach very high operating temperatures. Gravity-driven dense granular flows through cylindrical tubes demonstrate potential for CSP applications and are the focus of the present study. The heat transfer capabilities of such a flow system were experimentally studied using a bench-scale apparatus. The effect of the flow rate and other system parameters on the heat transfer to the flow was studied at low operating temperatures (<200 °C), using the convective heat transfer coefficient and Nusselt number to quantify the behavior. For flows ranging from 0.015 to 0.09 m/s, the flow rate appeared to have negligible effect on the heat transfer. The effect of temperature on the flow's heat transfer capabilities was also studied, examining the flows at temperatures up to 1000 °C. As expected, the heat transfer coefficient increased with the increasing temperature due to enhanced thermal properties. Radiation did not appear to be a key contributor for the small particle diameters tested (approximately 300 μm in diameter) but may play a bigger role for larger particle diameters. The experimental results from all trials corroborate the observations of other researchers; namely, that particulate flows demonstrate inferior heat transfer as compared with a continuum flow due to an increased thermal resistance adjacent to the tube wall resulting from the discrete nature of the flow.

Analytic Modeling of Heat Transfer to Vertical Dense Granular Flows

2019 ◽  
Vol 142 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Megan F. Watkins ◽  
Yesaswi N. Chilamkurti ◽  
Richard D. Gould
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Heated Surface ◽  
Granular Flows ◽  
Packing Fraction ◽  
Heat Transfer Fluid ◽  
Limiting Factor ◽  
Adjacent Layer ◽  
Dense Flows ◽  
Dense Granular Flows ◽  
Near Wall

Abstract The high packing fractions of dense granular flows make them an attractive option as a heat transfer fluid or thermal energy storage medium for high temperature applications. Previous works studying the heat transfer to dense flows have identified an increased thermal resistance adjacent to the heated surface as a limiting factor in the heat transfer to a discrete particle flow. While models exist to estimate the heat transfer to dense flows, no physics-based model describing the heat transfer in the near-wall layer is found; this is the focus of the present study. Discrete element method (DEM) simulations were used to examine the near-wall flow characteristics, identifying how parameters such as the near-wall packing fraction and number of particle-wall contacts may affect the heat transfer from the wall. A correlation to describe the effective thermal conductivity (ETC) of the wall-adjacent layer (with thickness of a particle radius) was derived based on parallel thermal resistances representing the heat transfer to particles in contact with the wall, particles not in contact with the wall, and void spaces. Empirical correlations based on DEM results were developed to estimate the near-wall packing fraction and number of particle-wall contacts. The contribution from radiation was also incorporated using a simple enclosure analysis. The ETC correlation was validated by incorporating it into dense flow models for chute flows and cylindrical flows and comparing with the experimental data for each.

Effective Thermal Conductivity of Wall-Adjacent Layer in Gravity-Driven Vertical Dense Granular Flows

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Megan F. Watkins ◽  
Yesaswi N. Chilamkurti ◽  
Richard D. Gould
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Thermal Conductivity ◽  
Thermal Resistance ◽  
Effective Thermal Conductivity ◽  
Granular Flows ◽  
Packing Fraction ◽  
System Configuration ◽  
Adjacent Layer ◽  
Potential System ◽  
Dense Granular Flows

Particle-based heat transfer fluids for concentrated solar power (CSP) tower applications offer a unique advantage over traditional fluids as they have the potential to reach very high operating temperatures. Our work studies the heat transfer behavior of dense granular flows through cylindrical tubes as a potential system configuration for CSP towers. Thus far, we have experimentally investigated the heat transfer to such flows. Our results corroborate the observations of other researchers; namely, that the discrete nature of the flow limits the heat transferred from the tube wall to the flow due to an increased thermal resistance in the wall-adjacent layer. The present study focuses on this near-wall phenomenon, examining how it varies with system configuration and flow rate. A correlation to predict the thermal resistance, in the form of an effective thermal conductivity, was developed based on the underlying physics controlling the heat transfer. The model developed focuses on heat transfer via conduction, considering the heat transfer to particles in contact with the wall, heat transfer to particles not in contact with the wall, and heat transfer through the void spaces. Discrete Element Method simulations were used to examine the flow parameters necessary to understand the heat transfer in the wall-adjacent layer, in particular the packing fraction in the wall-adjacent layer and the number of particle-wall contacts. Incorporation of the model into the single-resistance model developed by Sullivan & Sabersky [1] showed good agreement with their experimental results and those of Natarajan & Hunt [2].

Heat Transfer to Vertical Dense Granular Flows at High Operating Temperatures

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Megan F. Watkins ◽  
Richard D. Gould
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Heat Transfer Coefficient ◽  
Transfer Coefficient ◽  
Granular Flows ◽  
Concentrated Solar Power ◽  
Ceramic Particles ◽  
Dense Flows ◽  
Operating Temperatures ◽  
The Heat Transfer Coefficient ◽  
Dense Granular Flows

Ceramic particles as a heat transfer fluid for concentrated solar power towers offers a variety of advantages over traditional heat transfer fluids. Ceramic particles permit the use of very high operating temperatures, being limited only by the working temperatures of the receiver components, as well as demonstrate the potential to be used for thermal energy storage. A variety of system configurations utilizing ceramic particles are currently being studied, including upward circulating beds of particles, falling particle curtains, and flows of particles over an array of absorber tubes. The present work investigates the use of gravity-driven dense granular flows through cylindrical tubes, which demonstrate solid packing fractions of approximately 60%. Previous work demonstrated encouraging results for the use of dense flows for heat transfer applications and examined the effect of various parameters on the overall heat transfer for low temperatures. The present work examined the heat transfer to dense flows at high operating temperatures more characteristic of concentrated solar power tower applications. For a given flow rate, the heat transfer coefficient was examined as a function of the mean flow temperature by steadily increasing the input heat flux over a series of trials. The heat transfer coefficient increased almost linearly with temperature below approximately 600°C. Above 600°C, the heat transfer coefficient increased at a faster rate, suggesting an increased radiation heat transfer contribution.

Effect of Flow Rate and Particle Size on Heat Transfer to Dense Granular Flows

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Megan F. Watkins ◽  
Richard D. Gould
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Particle Size ◽  
Heat Transfer Coefficient ◽  
Transfer Coefficient ◽  
Flow Rate ◽  
Granular Flows ◽  
Heat Transfer Fluid ◽  
Storage Medium ◽  
Flow Rates ◽  
Dense Granular Flows

The increasing demand for renewable energy sources necessitates the development of more efficient technologies. Concentrated solar power (CSP) towers exhibit promising qualities, as temperatures greater than 1000°C are possible. The heat transfer fluid implemented to capture the sun’s energy significantly impacts the overall performance of a CSP system. Current fluids, such as molten nitrate salts and steam, have limitations; molten salts are limited by their small operational temperature range while steam requires high pressures and is unable to act as an effective storage medium. As a result, a new heat transfer fluid composed of ceramic particles is being investigated, as ceramic particles demonstrate no practical limit on operation temperature and have the ability to act as a storage medium. This study sought to further investigate the use of dense granular flows as a new heat transfer fluid. Previous work validated the use of such flows as a heat transfer fluid; the present work examined the effect of flow rate, as well as the particle size and type on the heat transfer to the particle fluid. Three different types of particles were tested, along with two different diameter particles. Of the three materials tested, the particle type did not appear to effect the heat transfer. Particle diameter, however, did effect the heat transfer, as a smaller diameter particle yielded slightly higher heat transfer to the fluid. Flow rates ranging from 30 to 200 kg/m2-s were tested. Initially, the heat transfer to the flow, characterized by the convective heat transfer coefficient, decreased with increasing flow rate. However, at approximately 80 kg/m2-s, the heat transfer coefficient began to increase with increasing flow rate. These results indicate that a dense granular flow consisting of small diameter particles and traveling at very slow or fast flow rates yields the best wall to “fluid” heat transfer.

scholarly journals Self-diffusion scalings in dense granular flows

Soft Matter ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Riccardo Artoni ◽  
Michele Larcher ◽  
James T. Jenkins ◽  
Patrick Richard
Keyword(s):  
Shear Rate ◽  
Solid Fraction ◽  
Granular Flows ◽  
The Self ◽  
Granular Temperature ◽  
Restitution Coefficient ◽  
Self Diffusion ◽  
Diffusivity Tensor ◽  
Dense Granular Flows

The self-diffusivity tensor in homogeneously sheared dense granular flows is anisotropic. We show how its components depend on solid fraction, restitution coefficient, shear rate, and granular temperature.

Shock waves in dense granular flows down a chute

Shock Waves ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 337-349 ◽  
Author(s):  
Piroz Zamankhan
Keyword(s):  
Shock Waves ◽  
Granular Flows ◽  
Dense Granular Flows

Shear induced diffusion in dense granular flows

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashish V. Orpe ◽  
Chris H. Rycroft ◽  
Arshad A. Kudrolli ◽  
Joe Goddard ◽  
Pasquale Giovine ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Granular Flows ◽  
Dense Granular Flows
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