Research On Discharge Trajectory And Transfer Process Of Belt Conveyor Using DEM Simulation

Transfer system plays an indispensable role in the bulk solid handling facility. It not only directly affects the life of conveyor belts but also influences the surrounding environment. This article expounds transfer system research situation of domestic and foreign, under the absence of a reliable theory about motion of particles in industrial equipment, introduces "Discrete Element Method (shorted DEM)" used in transfer system’s research process, and establishes discrete element unit models for transfer process research, so it solves practical problems better. A contact model between particle and particle is established according to DEM theory. Contact mechanics model is built by using Hertz contact theory. This article establishes an EDEM simulation model and it realizes visualization research in the process of materials transfer.Taking a project’s transfer system as the example, then the paper builds up this transfer system and particle simulation models. Through EDEM simulating the operating process of materials on and fall from the belt, the paper analyzes particles’movement trajectory to get the discharge trajectory of material flowing down the belt. The article compares it with the other discharge trajectory drawn through continuity theory method to get the best method to research the discharge trajectory. It shows that CEMA6method and EDEM-Simulation are better than others. Transfer systems with different impact plate are simulated through EDEM, the experimental result shows that the impact force and impact factor of the arc-shaped impact plate are minimum.The effect of the structure with bar screen under the chute in controlling material and reducing belt wear are illustrated by the simulation. The force to the belt and the belt wear reduce obviously with the bar screen. The velocity of material flowing to belt with bar screen more than4m/s is29.1%while it is46.9%without the bar screen. Material flow in the chute and the structure of the chute are analyzed. Chutes in different structure are simulated. The experimental result shows that material velocity flowing out of the chute composed with straight line and circular arc is closer to the velocity of belt and the force to belt and belt wear reduces much. Chute composed with straight line and circular arc can reduce spatial size of transfer station compared with linear chute.