Heat Transfer in a Granular Media Modeled by a Coupled DEM-Finite Difference Method: Application to Fluidized Bed Processes

The aim of this study is to simulate the heat transfer in a granular media. It's a phenomenon found, for example, in the convective drying in chemicals, pharmaceuticals industry or in the powder metallurgy. The temperature field of the granular phase is modelled by the Discrete Elements Method (DEM) and coupled to the fluid or solid phase one, which is modelled by finite difference method. The emphasis is placed on the heat transfer between particles in contact (conductance) and convection solid/fluid. Process examples during several hours can be simulated by our coupled method. Various comparisons with experimental results are presented to validate the model.