Simulation of heat transfer characteristics of tire particles in rotary kiln reactor

In this study, we examined and strengthened the motion and heat transfer characteristics of tire particles in a rotary kiln. To overcome the difficulty of controlling the residence time of tire pellets and poor heat transfer, a study was conducted on heat transfer enhancement owing to lifting flight in a rotary kiln with spiral grooves. We developed a particle mechanics model using the discrete element method, and then simulated tire particle motion and obtained results using the EDEM software platform. The obtained motion results were programmed on a MATLAB platform for performing a heat transfer simulation study on the improvement in heat transfer. The coupling model of motion and heat transfer of waste tire particles was established. Through the analysis of particle movement and heat transfer, the following conclusions are obtained: with the increase of the lifting flight, the particle swarm heats up faster and more uniformly; with the increase of the rotation speed, the temperature of the particles rises faster and more uniformly, which has only the same effect as the lifting flight; to a certain extent, the smaller particle size can also improve the heat transfer effect. The maximum error of the relatively accurate coupling model of tire particle motion and heat transfer in a rotary kiln was only 12%, which provides a certain guiding significance for the improved design of the reactor.