Hao Chen
Key Laboratory of Low-grade Energy Utilization Technologies and Systems, Chongqing University, Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400044, China; Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
Qian Fu
Key Laboratory of Low-grade Energy Utilization Technologies and Systems, Chongqing University, Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400044, China; Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
Qiang Liao
School of Energy and Power a Key Laboratory of Low-grade Energy Utilization Technologies and Systems, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400030, China Institute of Engineering Thermal Physics, School of Energy and Power Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400030, China
Hong Zhang
Key Laboratory of Low-grade Energy Utilization Technologies and Systems, Chongqing University, Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400044, China; Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
Yun Huang
Key Laboratory of Low-grade Energy Utilization Technologies and Systems, Chongqing University, Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400044, China; Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
Ao Xia
Key Laboratory of Low-grade Energy Utilization Technologies and Systems, Chongqing University, Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400044, China; Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
Xun Zhu
Key Laboratory of Low-grade Energy Utilization Technologies and Systems (Chongqing University), Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400030, China; Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400030, China
Hydrothermal hydrolysis is a cost-effective method to pretreat microalgae biomass for further biogas production via fermentation. In continuous hydrothermal hydrolysis reactors, the heat transfer characteristics are not clear due to the complex rheological properties of microalgae slurries. Herein, we numerically investigated the heat transfer characteristics of microalgae slurry (chlorella pyrenoidosa) in tube with homogeneous heat flux in a laminar flow. The Reynolds numbers (Re) were set as from 450 to 1800, and the heat transfer performance of microalgae slurry with different inlet temperatures were studied. The results showed that the property of variable generalized rheology index of microalgae slurry led to a lower heat transfer performance with the increase of Re number. In addition, the variable viscosity of microalgae slurry can enhance or weaken heat transfer performance depending on the viscosity-temperature relationship of microalgae slurry. Finally, the effects of variable rheology index of microalgae slurries on Nusselt number (Nu) were summarized in heat transfer correlation.