Sensitivity of important parameters in a three‐dimensional simulation of the milling process of sugar cane with modified Drucker–Prager Cap model based on evolutionary material properties

Abstract

The properties of the milled mixture of sugar cane change greatly during the milling process. The evolution of its properties was modeled using three‐dimensional simulation method of the modified Drucker–Prager Cap model. Parameters for the model were determined by dynamic compression tests and simulated contrast test and employed to analyze the changes of roll load, roll torque, the maximum speed of sugar juice, stress, pore pressure, and the maximum void ratio under compression ratios of 1.5–3.5, blanket thicknesses of 40–140 mm, roll diameters of 700–1000 mm, and roll surface speeds of 0.1–0.5 m/s. The following results have been found: compression ratio plays the leading role in stress, pore pressure, roll load, and roll torque which increase with it; blanket thickness is of primary importance for maximum void ratio which increases with it; and roll surface speed has the most obvious effect on maximum sugar juice speed which increases with it. The method of this paper might provide a more accurate prediction for the optimization of these important parameters during the milling process of sugar cane. Practical applications The properties of the milled mixture of sugar cane change greatly during the milling process. However, the material properties for the constitutive model adopted by the researchers were the mean values of those measured. As a result, the predicted results obtained by the model based on the average values of these parameters are different from those obtained by the actual tests. We evolved the law of variation of parameters and adopted a three‐dimensional simulation method of the modified Drucker–Prager Cap model to the milling process of sugar cane. Our results show compression ratio is most important for stress, pore pressure, roll load, and roll torque which increase with it; blanket thickness and roll surface speed are of primary importance for maximum void ratio and the most obvious effect on maximum sugar juice speed which increases with them. Information presented here can serve as a guidance for a more accurate prediction for the optimization of these important parameters during the milling process of sugar cane.

Elastic–plastic constitutive model of the milled mixture of sugarcane based on phase transition state

“…The elastic–plastic coupling and fluid–solid coupling will occur in the fibers of sugarcane during the milling process (Plaza, 2002, 2012, 2013a, 2013b), which leads to uneven stress distribution of the milled mixture and juice reabsorption. These phenomena can reduce juice extraction efficiency and increase the processing energy consumption (Duan, Mao, Huang, et al, 2019a; Owen et al, 1998). In order to further understand these complex phenomena and optimize the crushing process and equipment to improve juice extraction efficiency and reduce energy consumption, it is necessary to study mechanical properties of the milled mixture of sugarcane and establish its constitutive model (Plaza, 2011a, 2011b).…”

Multi-Objective Optimization of Sugarcane Milling System Operations Based on a Deep Data-Driven Model

“…Duan et al modeled the evolution of the properties of the sugarcane milling process using the three-dimensional simulation method of the modified Drucker–Prager cap model and concluded that the compression ratio is the most important parameter. This method might provide a more accurate prediction for the optimization of these important parameters during the milling process of sugarcane [ 9 ]. However, the sugarcane milling system consists of not only the pressing process, but also the processes of crushing, tearing, and seepage [ 7 , 10 ].…”