Study on the Effect of Curved Funnel for Silo Unloading On Particle Flow Characteristics

Abstract

In order to adapt to the needs of modern intelligent warehousing and reduce the unloading side pressure of grain silo, the influence of curved funnel on the unloading process is designed and analyzed, and this paper uses EDEM simulation software and Hertz Mindlin model for analysis. The results found that compared with the unloading characteristics of the conical funnel, the unloading side pressure is effectively improved; in the unloading process, with the increase of the shrinkage rate, the critical position of the flow transformation increases and the flow velocity of the particle group accelerates. However, the flow velocity of the particle group decreases when it reaches the critical position of 250 mm. Combined with the corresponding analysis, this paper uses the Froude number to quantitatively express the mobility of particles. As the shrinkage rate of the curved funnel and the unloading height increase, the Froude number also increases. This paper analyzes and calibrates the curved funnel for soybean unloading in silos, which will provide useful reference for avoiding arching and clogging during the unloading process of grain particles.