Granular Media Motion in a Rotary Kiln: Design, Testing and Analysis Combined with Coupled Radiative Exchange Techniques in a Discrete Element Method Tool for Concentrating Solar Power Application
Date of Award
12-1-2023
Degree Name
M.S. in Mechanical Engineering
Department
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Advisor/Chair
Advisor: Rydge Mulford
Abstract
The goal of this work is to experimentally characterize the heat transfer and flow properties of particulate flow for concentrating solar power (CSP) applications. This work expands on commercially available Discrete Element Method (DEM) modeling software, Aspherix®, by adding radiative exchange models in DEM, called DEM+. A small-scale rotary kiln is created to study particle properties in the ‘liquid’ regime of particle motion at temperatures up to 800 °C to capture a dynamic particle-particle granular flow. Bulk flow characterized by the Froude number is investigated at with different fill angles, wall roughnesses, and rotational speeds. Three types of alumina silicate particles are used as a representative sampling of granular media experienced in CSP systems. These experiments aim to validate the DEM+ modeling tool.
Keywords
Rotary kiln, concentrating solar power, granular media, Discrete Element Method, radiative exchange, Froude number, particles
Rights Statement
Copyright © 2023, author.
Recommended Citation
Douglass, Natalie S., "Granular Media Motion in a Rotary Kiln: Design, Testing and Analysis Combined with Coupled Radiative Exchange Techniques in a Discrete Element Method Tool for Concentrating Solar Power Application" (2023). Graduate Theses and Dissertations. 7343.
https://ecommons.udayton.edu/graduate_theses/7343
