Modelling of filling and discharge of granular materials in hoppers by discrete element method: optimization of some flow parameters

Abstract

The discrete concept and numerical discrete element method (DEM) are applied for simulation of filling and discharge of granular material in a wedge-shape hopper with fixed outlet orifice making the base for optimization of discharge flow parameters. The presented DEM model was validated by examination of the wall pressure and by comparing it with the results of classical macroscopic pressure prediction. Actually, filling problem is considered as numerical generation of initial conditions for discharge flow. A multi-objective approach was used to minimize of the discharge time and discharge flow rate. Discharge mass of the material and the shape of the hopper are considered to be design variables. The variation of optimality criteria and Pareto set is demonstrated by the numerical results.