(361g) Design Considerations for Moving Bed Heat Exchangers

Moving bed heat exchangers, which consist of vertical heat transfer plates above a hopper and feeder, are used to heat or cool bulk solids continuously. While methods to describe heat transfer in moving bed heat exchangers are well established, design criteria for stable and reliable flow of particles are less documented. In addition to providing models for heat transfer in bulk solids, this paper will provide guidelines for preventing particle flow stoppages between heat exchanger plates, specifying the geometry and wall angle of the hopper section that will prevent stagnant zones from developing, determining the minimum allowable distance between the bottom of the plates to ensure bed stability, and the inlet to the hopper section, and designing or selecting a reliable feeder to modulate the flow rate.