Heat transfer on packed beds

Areas of application for packed beds in energy and process engineering are almost endless. Due to their large ratio of relative surface to volume, they can be used as process filters, separators or chemical reactors. Heat transfer plays a decisive role in terms of process technology.

The working group Heat Transfer in High-Temperature Packed-Beds at the IKW researches heat transfer in bulk solids of all kinds. From powder-beds with dust grain size particles to pebble beds with significant boundary effects. In addition to heat conduction, heat radiation and convection, fluid and solid mechanics as well as reactions inside the bulk are also investigated. The knowledge gained helps to further optimise existing processes and improve their sustainability.