Structured　packed　beds　can　have　a　lower　pressure　drop　compared　to　randomly　packed　beds.　However,　structured　packed　beds　are　hard　to　achieve.　In　the　present　paper,　we　designed　a　structure　that　can　obtain　a　structured　packed　bed　more　easily,　that　is　the　grille-sphere　composite　packed　bed.　The　fluid　flow　and　particle-to-fluid　heat　transfer　characteristics　are　experimentally　investigated　by　naphthalene　sublimation　technique　and　the　heat-to-mass　analogy.　Results　show　that　firstly,　compared　to　the　simple　cubic　packing,　the　grille-sphere　composite　packed　bed　has　a　slightly　higher　pressure　drop　and　can　improve　the　heat　transfer　at　the　same　time.　Secondly,　the　pressure　drop　of　the　grille-sphere　composite　packed　bed　is　much　lower　than　that　of　randomly　packed　bed,　while　the　heat　transfer　decreases　just　a　little.　Finally,　the　grille-sphere　composite　packed　bed　has　the　highest　overall　heat　transfer　coefficient　among　three　packed　beds.　Results　of　the　present　paper　provide　a　new　method　to　improve　the　overall　heat　transfer　property　of　packed　beds.　©　2017,　Science　Press.　All　right　reserved.