Assessing the representativeness of durability tests for wood pellets by DEM Simulation

Comparing conditions in a durability test with transfer chutes

Conference paper (2017)

Authors

A. Mahajan Indian Institute of Technology Delhi
I. Dafnomilis Transport Engineering and Logistics - Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering
V.E. Hancock Transport Engineering and Logistics - Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering
G. Lodewijks Transport Engineering and Logistics - Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering
D.L. Schott Transport Engineering and Logistics - Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering
Research Group
Transport Engineering and Logistics (Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering) (TU Delft)
Copyright: © 2017 A. Mahajan, I. Dafnomilis, V.E. Hancock, G. Lodewijks, D.L. Schott
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/201714015004
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Published Date

2017

Language

English

Faculty

Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering

Department

Marine and Transport Technology

Research Group

Transport Engineering and Logistics

Abstract

Dust generation when handling wood pellets is related to the durability of the product, in other words the wear rate of particles subject to forces. During transport, storage and handling wood pellets undergo different forces when interacting with different pieces of equipment.

This paper assesses the representativeness of the tumbling can test in relation to transfer chutes, by comparing forces acting on wood pellets in durability tests and in transfer chutes using DEM. The study also incorporates effects such as shape and size variations. The results showed that the tumbling can test underestimates compressive and tangential forces. Since the tested material is subject to milder conditions than in reality, it can be concluded that this test is not representative for the conditions in the supply chain of wood pellets.