Abstract :
A new type of arching and rat-holding free hopper was designed for the flow of granular
material by using the Discrete Element Method. Such hoppers are immensely helpful in the food,
biopharmaceutical and agriculture industries. The DEM is a complex method that resolves the
problem of storage and flow of granular material in a hopper. It is a time taking procedure as the
granular particles search for the contact between each other. Initially, when the particles are filled in
the hopper, the velocity is greater; however, at the time of discharging material out of the hopper the
velocity of flow of granular material at the orifice end is smaller. The total particles are discharged
within 0.17 second, having different diameters and velocities.
Keyword :
Agriculture, Discrete element method, Granular particles, Hopper, Pharmaceuticals.