Optimizing pyrolysis processes is critical for improving the efficiency of pyrolysis furnaces. This study presents a strategy to enhance heat transfer through agitation, employing Fluent for detailed numerical simulation of the thermal behavior. The simulation results show strong agreement with experimental measurements of localized fluid temperature rise. Forced convection induced by impeller rotation significantly improves heat transfer between the fluid and the furnace walls, effectively reducing thermal stratification. At an impeller speed of 240 RPM, the axial temperature difference decreases from 200 K to 50 K compared with stationary conditions, while the average heat transfer coefficient increases by approximately 50% throughout the heating process. The swirl flow generated by impeller motion disrupts the thermal boundary layer, achieving a more uniform temperature distribution and faster thermal response.
Bai et al. (2026) studied this question.