| Abstract: | Theoretical modelling of heat transfer to particle beds comprises two sequential steps: transfer from the heating surface to contacting particles followed by transfer to the interior of the bed. Two different limiting case can be formulated for the second step: unmixed and homogeneously mixed bed. In the case, heat is transferred gradually via a repeated sequence of heat transfer in the gap between adjacent particles and conduction in the particulate material. In the second case, heat is transferred to the interior of the bed by mixing of particles which have previously attained the temperature of the heating surface. On the other hand, the mixing motion maintains a homogeneous lower temperature throughout the bed. Theory predicts a significant and easily measurable difference in the behaviour of heat transfer coefficients for the two regimes at long contact times t: unmixed beds ∝ $$ sqrt t $$ and homogeneously mixed beds ∝ 1/t. For short times t, both regimes show the same behaviour, namely of t. From a theoretical standpoint, it makes sense to differentiate further between the behaviour patterns of unmixed beds: at long times t, instantaneous heat transfer coefficients are independent of heat transfer form the heating surface to adjacent particles. Comparison with experimental result from literature shows that the derived models, which are consistent, are suitable for describing the heat transfer from submerged surfaces to unmixed and mixed beds of particles. |
