An experimental investigation of heat transfer in a rotating fluidized bed

An in depth study of the heat transfer characteristics of a rotating fluidized bed has been conducted and comparisons made with the results of a similar study of the heat transfer characteristics of a columnar bed. The heat transfer results for the rotating fluidized bed have been extrapolated to several previously described colloid core nuclear reactor designs to predict operating temperatures and particle-gas temperature differentials. It has been concluded that the rotating fluidized bed exhibits much better heat transfer than a columnar fluidized bed for similar flow conditions. Results for the rotating fluidized bed indicate that its operation may be varied so as to tailor its heat transfer characteristics to specific applications. Extrapolation to the colloid core nuclear reactor indicates operating temperatures around 3750K and particle-gas temperature differentials of less than 100K for a variety of operating conditions.