Thermal Contact Conductance of Packed Beds in Contact With a Flat Surface

Abstract

An experimental investigation was conducted to determine the thermal contact conductance of packed beds of spherical particles in contact with flat surfaces. Beds comprised of four materials, Aluminum 2017-T4, Yellow Brass, Stainless Steel 304, and Chromium Alloy AISI 52100, all in contact with flat Stainless Steel 304, surfaces were evaluated in a vacuum environment, at a mean interface temperature of 66°C. In addition to the experimental program, an analytical expression was developed by combining previous work performed by other investigators. The results of the experimental investigation are compared with the analytical expression and indicate that an accurate method of predicting the thermal contact conductance at the interface between beds of spherical particles and nominally flat surfaces has been identified.