Research On Computer Simulation Of Parametric Bulk Material Handling System

Transfer station plays an indispensable role in the materials handling systems, it directly affects the life of conveyor belts and the surrounding environment. The discrete element method(DEM) is an efficient numerical means to study granular material, its industrial applications are typically large which involve geotechnical engineering,mining engineering and solid handling. This thesis adopts DEM to study the kinematics regularity of particle flow in transfer station, which leads to improvements in equipment design and operation, potentially leading to large increases in design and process efficiency. Parametric design, as a entirely new design method, has been widely used in industry,which reduces the tedious and repeated work during the design, thus improving work efficiency and quality.The thesis reviews the changes in the design of transfer station for the last50years. The optimal design method of each part of transfer station is given, based on the parametric dimension-driven, using Pro/Program to carry on the parameter model of the transfer station. Furthermore, the transfer station system of parameter is developed by Pro/Toolkit and Visual C++2005programming environment, which realize interface between Pro/E and MFC in the form of dynamic link library (DLL), menu bar, pull-down menu items, and pop-up dialogs have been added to Pro/E, which realize human-computer interaction. The system has an intuitionistic, friendly frame interface, entering some basic parameters can generate the corresponding three-dimensional model.This system offers great facility to the wok of3D modeling of the transfer station. The model can be imported automatically into EDEM software with iges format, which carry on the discrete element simulation that greatly reduce the design cycle.The advantages and disadvantages of the structure of some typical transfer stations is compared, and their applied environment is given. The discrete element simulation is carried on,based on the transfer station used in a practical engineering? with reduced shear modulus and larger particle size. Then,after comparing the experimental results and computing time of DEM with normal condition, the methods to reduce the time of DEM simulation is projected. This thesis established a simulation model in EDEM software, realize the visualization of material flow in transfer process. After comparing the result of the material flow in the straight line chute, polyline chute and the curved line chute, the ideal structure of chute is given. The effect of the structure with grizzly fingers and a series of ladders in controlling material flow and reducing belt wear is illustrated by the simulation.