The effective thermal conductivity of single size and binary mixtures of packed particle beds with stagnant gas at high solid/gas conductivity ratios is determined by a deterministic, unit cell approach. The model results are shown to be in good agreement with experimental data for various gas pressures and solid to gas thermal conductivity ratios up to 1300. A set of correlations for effective conductivity of binary mixtures as a function of gas pressure and particle size is derived. The effect of particle swelling on the effective conductivity of binary mixtures is studied by performing a parametric study of the contact area between the particles