DEM-CFD Simulation Analysis of Heat Transfer Characteristics for Hydrogen Flow in Randomly Packed Beds

Abstract

In this study, three randomly packed beds with varying tube-to-particle diameter ratios (D/d) are constructed using the discrete element method (DEM) and simulated via CFD under low pore Reynolds numbers (Rep Nu) not only exhibits an inverse relationship with the axial porosity distribution, but also matches its amplitude fluctuations. The wall effect significantly impacts the flow and temperature distribution in the packed bed, causing notable velocity and temperature oscillations in the near-wall region. In the near-wall region, the average temperature is lower than in the core region, and the axial temperature profile exhibits more intense oscillations. These findings may provide insights into the use of hydrogen in randomly packed beds, which are vital for enhancing industrial applications such as hydrogen storage and utilization.

Keywords

• DEM
• CFD
• packed bed
• hydrogen flow
• Nusselt number
• heat transfer coefficient