Heat transfer enhancement in a packed bed reactor using spiral carbon fibers on the heat transfer tube

Heat transfer enhancement in a packed bed reactor equipped with a heat transfer tube was studied. Bundles of carbon fibers of high thermal conductivity were attached to the heat transfer tube not only to increase the effective thermal conductivity around the tube but also to improve the contact thermal resistance between the fibers and the tube. To disperse the carbon fibers in the reactor effectively, a spiral configuration was employed. The effect of the method of fixing the carbon fibers on the heat transfer rate was investigated, and a silver paste adhesive rather than an aluminum tape was found to be suitable to fix the fibers and to transfer thermal energy effectively. The spiral carbon fibers effectively improve thermal responses of the reactor because of their lower contact thermal resistance than a carbon fiber brush.