An experimental setup for studying conduction and radiation heat transfer in a rotary drum

This study presents the development of a novel heating system that aims to bridge the experimental gap for analyzing both radiation and conduction heat transfer in a rotary drum. The experiments were conducted by loading the drum with 4 mm silica glass beads at varying fill levels (10 %, 17.5 %, and 25 %) and rotation rates (2, 5, and 10 RPM), and monitoring the temperature evolution with an infrared camera. Higher fill levels resulted in lower average particle bed temperatures, while rotation rate influenced the contact time between particles and the drum wall and the exposure to radiative heat. A rotation rate of 5 RPM resulted in the highest average bed temperature due to optimal contact and exposure time for conduction and absorption of radiative heat, respectively. Thus, a balance between adequate particle mixing and optimal contact/exposure time is crucial for maximizing heat transfer efficiency in rotary drums exhibiting conduction and radiation.