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Title: Estimation of heat transfer coefficients for biomass particles by direct numerical simulation using microstructured particle models in the Laminar regime

Journal Article · · ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering
 [1];  [2];  [3]; ORCiD logo [3]
  1. National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States); Washington State Univ., Pullman, WA (United States)
  2. Washington State Univ., Pullman, WA (United States)
  3. National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)

Here, direct numerical simulation of convective heat transfer from hot gas to isolated biomass particle models with realistic morphology and explicit microstructure was performed over a range of conditions with laminar flow of hot gas (500 degrees C). Steady-state results demonstrated that convective interfacial heat transfer is dependent on the wood species. The computed heat transfer coefficients were shown to vary between the pine and aspen models by nearly 20%. These differences are attributed to the species-specific variations in the exterior surface morphology of the biomass particles. We also quantify variations in heat transfer experienced by the particle when positioned in different orientations with respect to the direction of fluid flow. These results are compared to previously reported heat transfer coefficient correlations in the range of 0.1 < Pr < 1.5 and 10 < Re < 500. Comparison of these simulation results to correlations commonly used in the literature (Gunn, Ranz-Marshall, and Bird-Stewart-Lightfoot) shows that the Ranz-Marshall (sphere) correlation gave the closest h values to our steady-state simulations for both wood species, though no existing correlation was within 20% of both species at all conditions studied. In general, this work exemplifies the fact that all biomass feedstocks are not created equal, and that their species-specific characteristics must be appreciated in order to facilitate accurate simulations of conversion processes.

Research Organization:
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Sustainable Transportation Office. Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC36-08GO28308
OSTI ID:
1339243
Report Number(s):
NREL/JA-2700-67424
Journal Information:
ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, Vol. 5, Issue 1; ISSN 2168-0485
Publisher:
American Chemical Society (ACS)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 19 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Cited By (1)

Advancing catalytic fast pyrolysis through integrated multiscale modeling and experimentation: Challenges, progress, and perspectives
  • Ciesielski, Peter N.; Pecha, M. Brennan; Bharadwaj, Vivek S.
  • Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Energy and Environment, Vol. 7, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1002/wene.297
journal April 2018