Search Results (3)

Sliding wear of bulk handling equipment (e.g., shovel bucket, mill and transfer chute) can be dramatically reduced by using a convex pattern surface compared to a flat surface, by adjusting the flow behavior of particles moving along the convex pattern surface. To study the effect of particle size relative to the dimensions of the convex pattern surface, a coarse graining technique is applied. Comparisons of bulk flow and wear behavior between the convex pattern and flat surfaces illustrate the two-sided effect of the convex pattern surface on sliding wear. The bulk flow behavior indicates that the particle size has a minor effect on the velocity and angular velocity of particles for the flat surface, while it has a significant effect on those of the convex pattern surface. The wear results show that the particle size has negligible influence on the sliding wear of a flat surface and a linear relationship with the sliding wear of the convex pattern surface. The convex pattern surface can reduce the sliding wear through influencing the flow behavior of the bulk material when the equivalent radius of the convex is larger than $r_{50}$ of particles. This research reveals the relationship between the dimensions of the convex pattern and the particle size on the sliding wear caused by the interaction between bulk material and bulk handling equipment. The relationship should be carefully considered for the applications of the convex pattern surface to bulk handling equipment. Full article

Transfer chutes for bulk material conveying systems have significant importance in ship loading and unloading and are ‘worn’ from large mass flow and fast granular material flow conditions. In this investigation, the impact forces of different granular materials on the transfer chute wear process are considered; the DEM–FEM (Discrete Element Method–Finite Element Method) coupling method was used to calculate the wear and the deformation of the transfer chute. The stress–strain and cumulative contact energy from three different granular materials were analyzed under different working conditions. The results show that the wear, stress–strain, and cumulative contact energy of the transfer chute are closely related to the belt speed, the chute inclination angle, and the types of granular materials; the impact force and the stress–strain on the transfer chute achieves maximum value under a 4 m/s belt speed condition; meanwhile, with the increase of belt speed by 0.5 m/s, the wear of the transfer chute increases 25% and the deformation increases 20%; the shape variable, wear area, and normal cumulative contact capacity of the transfer chute are the smallest with a transfer chute inclination angle from 40° to 45°. Full article

This paper addresses the problem of conveyor transfer station design in harsh operating conditions, aiming to identify and eliminate a failure phenomenon which interrupts aggregate supply. The analyzed transfer station is located in a Polish granite quarry. The study employs laser scanning and reverse engineering methods to map the existing transfer station and its geometry. Next, a discrete element method (DEM) model of granite aggregate has been created and used for simulating current operating conditions. The arch formation has been identified as the main reason for breakdowns. Alternative design solutions for transfer stations were tested in DEM simulations. The most uncomplicated design for manufacturing incorporated an impact plate, and a straight chute has been selected as the best solution. The study also involved identifying areas of the new station most exposed to wear phenomena. A new transfer point was implemented in the quarry and resolved the problem of blockages. Full article