Simulations of dynamic properties of particles in horizontal rotating ellipsoidal drums

Abstract

Flow behavior of particles in the horizontal rotating ellipsoidal drum (RED) is predicted by means of the discrete element method (DEM). The effect of flattening of the ellipsoidal drum on flow regimes of particles is simulated because of its importance to industrial applications, and because the underlying flow of particles is not fully explained yet. Different flow regimes are produced by varying flattening. The resulting contact forces between the drum wall and particles are predicted in the horizontal RED and horizontal rotating cylinder drum (RCD). The flow of particles in the horizontal RED becomes significantly different to that in the horizontal RCD due to the increase of flattening of the ellipsoidal drum. At high rotation speed, a crescent shaped flow mode is observed at the orientation angle of 90° and a showery raining mode is observed at 120°. The results show that the resulting contact forces between the particles and the drum wall increase with the increase of flattening and rotation speed. The velocity of particles is changed with the orientation angle of the horizontal RED. The translational granular temperature and configurational temperature are calculated from simulated instantaneous translational velocity and displacement of particles, respectively. The simulated translational granular temperature and configurational temperature increase with the increase of flattening and rotation speed. The rate of energy dissipation through collisions and contact interactions of particles is predicted in the horizontal RED and RCD.