MATHEMATICAL MODELING AND EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES ON OHMIC HEATING OF LIQUID-PARTICLE MIXTURES IN A STATIC HEATER

Understanding of the ohmic heating of liquid-particle mixtures requires preliminary study and model development within a static heater. A mathematical (3D finite element) model was developed for prediction of temperatures of mixtures of liquids and multiple particles within a static heater. Experiments were conducted using cubic potato particles within sodium phosphate solutions, for various particle sizes, orientations, concentrations, and liquid conductivities. The mathematical model was found to yield satisfactory prediction of experimental trends. Critical parameters affecting the relative heating rates of particles and liquid were the conductivities of the two phases, and the volume fraction of each phase. Ohmic heating appears most promising with high-solids concentration mixtures.