In this work, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) has been employed to compute local convection heat transfer coefficient (h) that is the key parameter in calculation of heat transfer rate between the particle and fluids in packed bed reactors. In addition, the relation between Reynolds number and Nusselt number for spherical and trilobe catalyst particles have been investigated. Moreover, the parameters of Ranz-Marshall (R-M) correlation have been estimated in order to use it for trilobe catalyst particle. The heat transfer coefficients of the spherical and trilobe particles were compared and the effect of particle shape and configuration on heat transfer rate has been investigated. Eulerian-Eulerian approach was employed in order to investigate gas-liquid hydrodynamic especially liquid film formation around trilobe particles. The effects of liquid film around a trilobe particle and liquid volume fraction on heat transfer coefficient have also been studied. The CFD simulation results indicate that increasing inlet liquid volume fraction raises the liquid film thickness around the particles leading to reduction of heat transfer coefficient. In addition, the results revealed that flow field and temperature profiles around the particles became more complicated as a result of liquid film formation and gas-liquid interactions.
©2012 Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co. KG, Berlin/Boston
