Abstract
The application of the Discrete Element Method (DEM) allows simulating the movement of a particle of any shape in a conveyor. The DEM method uses the assumptions of the Lagrange calculation model, in which each particle in the domain is tracked individually. It makes it possible to conduct a thorough examination of the behavior of the entire bulk material bed consisting of a set of elements with characteristic physicochemical properties. Therefore, the deposit is not considered according to averages and constants, e.g., strength values, but as a set of elements that can be described individually. The article presents the results of a simulation, with the use of the Discrete Elements Method (DEM), of the process of soft fruit transport in the food industry. The results of the research and exemplary simulations of blueberry fruit transport are presented. The influence of the type of a transport device on the values of normal and tangential forces occurring between the blueberry fruit and structural elements of the transport device, as well as the interaction between the fruits, were modeled. In addition, based on the amount of energy absorbed by each fruit due to collisions, the analysis of the energy spectrum of collisions of particles was carried out to determine the likelihood of damage to the fruit in transport and to identify the phenomena that favor it.
Highlights
The dynamic growth of production, which is characteristic of the development of the modern food industry, requires systematic improvement of the level of organization and automation of production processes
A serious technological challenge in the food industry is the transport of delicate products, susceptible to mechanical damage, the destruction of which makes it necessary to withdraw the raw material/semi-product from the technological line
The Discrete Element Method (DEM) method is based on direct tracking of particles in the Lagrange reference system
Summary
The dynamic growth of production, which is characteristic of the development of the modern food industry, requires systematic improvement of the level of organization and automation of production processes. A serious technological challenge in the food industry is the transport of delicate products (including soft fruit), susceptible to mechanical damage, the destruction of which makes it necessary to withdraw the raw material/semi-product from the technological line. Another serious problem is micro-cracks, which accelerate the destruction of the product in subsequent stages of the technological process [1,2,3]. The available numerical methods to investigate the behavior of particles make it possible for machine constructors to track the forces acting on a transported
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
