Multi-level coarse-grained discrete element method modeling of cylinder particle flow in a rotating drum--颗粒学报PARTICUOLOGY

Xu, L., Wu, X., Wang, S., & Bao, S. (2024). Multi-level coarse-grained discrete element method modeling of cylinder particle flow in a rotating drum. Particuology, 88, 218-238. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.partic.2023.09.015

Multi-level coarse-grained discrete element method modeling of cylinder particle flow in a rotating drum

Lei Xu ^{a b c *}, Xiukai Wu ^{a b c}, Shuai Wang ^d, Shiyi Bao ^{a b c}

a Institute of Process Equipment and Control Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310023, China
b Engineering Research Center of Process Equipment and Remanufacturing, Ministry of Education, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310023, China
c College of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310023, China
d State Key Laboratory of Clean Energy Utilization, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China

10.1016/j.partic.2023.09.015

Volume 88, May 2024, Pages 218-238

Received 20 April 2023, Revised 31 August 2023, Accepted 11 September 2023, Available online 4 October 2023, Version of Record 8 November 2023.

E-mail: xulei@zjut.edu.cn

Highlights

• A coarse-grained model is proposed for cylinder particle flow.

• Cylinder particle flow in a drum is predicted using original and coarse-grained models.

• adequacy of coarse-grained approach is evaluated using a multi-level methodology.

• Coarse-grained model accurately predicts the dynamic characteristics of cylinder particle flow.

• Coarse-grained model evidently improves simulation efficiency.

Abstract

The coarse-grained discrete element method (DEM) is probably a feasible option for simulating an actual drum-type biomass boiler, which contains over 10 million cylinder particles. A multi-level study was conducted based on particle and coarse-grained level data to evaluate the adequacy of the coarse-grained approach in terms of geometrical characteristics, kinematic features, and dynamic properties. Two scaling laws for contact parameters were used and compared during the simulations. The results show that the coarse-grained approach can accurately predict the positions of the free surface and active-passive interface, the mixing index, and the orientation properties. Deviations in the velocity fields may occur due to the worse flowability of coarse-grained particles near the free surface. The efficiency is significantly improved by the coarse-grained model compared with the corresponding original case (the same DEM code without a coarse-grained model was used for the original simulations).

Graphical abstract

Keywords

Coarse-grained method; Discrete element method (DEM); Cylinder particle; Rotating drum; Granular flow

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