Machine Learning Assisted Cross-Scale Hopper Design for Flowing Biomass Granular Materials

ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 13(16), P. 5838 - 5851

Published: April 16, 2025

The promise of biomass-derived biofuels is often overshadowed by intricate material handling challenges such as hopper clogging and screw feeder jamming. These issues stem from the knowledge gap among particle-scale properties (e.g., particle size), bulk-scale attributes relative density), macro-scale equipment design inclination), flow performance probability clogging). This work combines physical experiments, validated numerical simulations, data augmentation to develop a machine learning-based for flowing granular woody biomass materials. behavior simulated against tests utilizing developed smoothed hydrodynamics (SPH) solver modified hypoplastic model. A comprehensive evaluation performance, including rate, stability, pattern, conducted on an extensive set encompassing various sizes, moisture contents, densities, operating conditions. feed-forward neural network trained optimized with this correlate cross-scale metrics. results reveal promising predictive accuracy seen unseen sets. Further how input affect predicted metrics carried out. indicate that opening width primarily dictates throughput, while density, wall friction, inclination angle, collectively impact stability. Additionally, patterns are predominantly governed angle. Moreover, potential found be exclusively characterized index dedicated combination high dense packing, smooth low angles, small widths substantially elevates risk unstable flows clogging. study serves potent tool milled materials in hoppers all stakeholders biorefineries manufacturing.

Language: Английский

---

A Review of Computational Models for the Flow of Milled Biomass Part II: Continuum-Mechanics Models

ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 8(16), P. 6157 - 6172

Published: April 3, 2020

The design of efficient material-handling systems for milled lignocellulosic biomass is challenging due to their complex particle morphologies and frictional interactions. Computational modeling, including the discrete element method (DEM) continuum-based finite-element/volume methods, may offer scientific insight predictive capabilities flow in hoppers feeders. This article (Part II) presents a review current state-of-the-art continuum models biomass, whereas DEM are reviewed companion I). Advances numerical methods solve global governing equations discussed first, followed by comprehensive constitutive granular materials, Drucker–Prager, hypoplastic, Cambridge-type, inertial-rheology, nonlocal fluidity models. Specifically, we provide in-depth discussion on suitability those materials terms nonlinear elasticity, dependence strength pressure, density shear rate, compaction (dilation) associated with hardening (softening). Our study shows that, despite recent advances most suitable still need further development account material parametrization, multiflow regimes, multiscale behavior before they can be reliably used optimize operation handling systems.

Language: Английский

---

Flow characterization of compressible biomass particles using multiscale experiments and a hypoplastic model

Powder Technology, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 383, P. 396 - 409

Published: Jan. 23, 2021

Language: Английский

---

A nonlinear elasto-plastic bond model for the discrete element modeling of woody biomass particles

Powder Technology, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 385, P. 557 - 571

Published: March 13, 2021

Language: Английский

---

Assessment of a tomography-informed polyhedral discrete element modelling approach for complex-shaped granular woody biomass in stress consolidation

Biosystems Engineering, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 205, P. 187 - 211

Published: March 27, 2021

Language: Английский

---

Flowability of Crumbler Rotary Shear Size-Reduced Granular Biomass: An Experiment-Informed Modeling Study on the Angle of Repose

Frontiers in Energy Research, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 10

Published: May 5, 2022

Biomass has potential as a carbon-neutral alternative to petroleum for chemical and energy products. However, complete replacement of fossil fuel is contingent upon efficient processes eliminate undesirable characteristics biomass, e.g., low bulk density, variability, storage-induced quality problems. Mechanical size reduction via comminution processing operation engineer favorable biomass flowability in handling. Crumbler rotary shear mill been empirically demonstrated produce more uniformly shaped particles with higher than hammermilled biomass. This study combines modeling experimentation unveil fundamental understandings the relation between granular particle flow behavior, which elucidate underlying mechanisms guide selection critical parameters. For this purpose, impact material attributes, including (2–6 mm), shape (briquette, chip, clumped-sphere, cube, etc.), surface roughness, on angle repose (AOR) milled pine chips were investigated using discrete element method (DEM) simulations. Forest Concepts system used within same range considered DEM AOR different sets these measured experimentally benchmark results against experimental data. Specific consumption moisture content are technoeconomic analysis. Our show that smaller (2 mm) achieves better followability (i.e., AOR) while cost significantly density almost 6-mm particles. 2-mm size, Crumbles from veneer have properties chips. Contrarily, no significant difference was observed two materials size. Furthermore, simulations, mechanical interlocking found dominant factor determining complex-shaped such pine, cannot be accurately captured by simple shapes (e.g., mono-sphere) rolling resistance model. Conversely, clumped-sphere model alleviates limitation without increasing computational can accurate representation when simulating free-flow behavior.

Language: Английский

---

SPH Modeling of Biomass Granular Flow: Engineering Application in Hoppers and Augers

ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 12(10), P. 4213 - 4223

Published: Feb. 28, 2024

Numerical modeling of granular biomass material flow in handling operations is indispensable to decipher upsets, commonly manifested as clogging and jamming hoppers augers. With a computational tool developed based on smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH), we simulated the hopper auger feeding six materials. The good agreement between experimental numerical rates demonstrated capability SPH solver complicated impact physical parameters investigated, major results show that pattern controlled by shear band evolution; collectively influenced opening size, wall friction, packing, compressibility feed rate minimal. These parametric studies validate solver's robustness simulating equipment demonstrate can provide insights about mechanics facilitate design optimize operations.

Language: Английский

---

The role of flexural particles in the shear flow of pine residue biomass: An experiment-informed DEM simulation study

Powder Technology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 440, P. 119771 - 119771

Published: April 17, 2024

An experiment-informed discrete particle simulation study was performed to investigate the role of flexural particles in shear flow milled pine residues. Physical anatomical fraction samples were tested an FT4 powder rheometer. A chip model for bark/stem chips and a fiber needles proposed DEM. The simulations show mixed fibers/chips require higher force torque drive than pure or fibers. mass flexibility fibers reveal nonlinear inter-dependency on impacting fibers/chips. Polydisperse well match needle-rich attributes, while polydisperse agree reasonably with bark/stem-rich samples. DEM indicates that flowability residue biomass is determined collectively by various material attributes fractions, which must be considered when developing preprocessing methods conversion-ready adequate handling performance.

Language: Английский

---

Shear rate dependency on flowing granular biomass material

Powder Technology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 442, P. 119834 - 119834

Published: May 9, 2024

Language: Английский

---

The effect of air separations on fast pyrolysis products for forest residue feedstocks

Fuel, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 375, P. 132572 - 132572

Published: July 31, 2024

This study investigates the intricate relationship between biomass preprocessing and pyrolysis product yields, employing air classification technique for treatment of loblolly pine residues with varying moisture content. A comprehensive exploration physicochemical properties air-classified informs a sophisticated simulation model. Given complex multifaceted nature pyrolysis, operating across diverse temporal spatial scales, kinetics-based CFD–DEM method is employed to predict yields. Results showed that elevated content amplifies particle adhesiveness, necessitating augmented velocities effective separation, thereby influencing efficiency separation process. While carbon hydrogen contents exhibit relative stability blower frequencies, oxygen undergoes noticeable changes. For example, were measured as 29.2 38.6 wt% in light fraction 30 % sample at frequencies 10 20 Hz, respectively. An intriguing finding emerges from simulation, indicating lower frequency moderately enhances bio-oil yield significantly improves its quality, particularly terms water instance, was about 1.5 heavy fractions, respectively under 15 Hz frequency. In summary, detailed understanding strategic manipulation critical material attributes through efficient fractionation techniques are imperative advancing fast sustainable avenue renewable energy chemical production.

Language: Английский

---