Numerical Analysis of Influence Mechanism of Orifice Eccentricity on Silo Discharge Rate

Eccentric silo is an extremely common type of silo, but it is still unclear how to accurately control the discharge by adjusting eccentric orifices, limiting the application and development of eccentric silo. In this study, the rice particle discharging process on silos with different eccentricities...

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Main Authors: Yinglong Wang, Yanlong Han, Anqi Li, Hao Li, Haonan Gao, Ze Sun, Shouyu Ji, Zhuozhuang Li, Fuguo Jia
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Agriculture
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/15/5/490
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author Yinglong Wang
Yanlong Han
Anqi Li
Hao Li
Haonan Gao
Ze Sun
Shouyu Ji
Zhuozhuang Li
Fuguo Jia
author_facet Yinglong Wang
Yanlong Han
Anqi Li
Hao Li
Haonan Gao
Ze Sun
Shouyu Ji
Zhuozhuang Li
Fuguo Jia
author_sort Yinglong Wang
collection DOAJ
description Eccentric silo is an extremely common type of silo, but it is still unclear how to accurately control the discharge by adjusting eccentric orifices, limiting the application and development of eccentric silo. In this study, the rice particle discharging process on silos with different eccentricities was simulated by the discrete element method (DEM), and the influence mechanism of orifice eccentricity on silo discharge rate was analyzed. The results show that eccentricity has a direct influence on the particle volume fraction and vertical velocity that determine the discharge rate of the silo. In fully eccentric silo, it is not easy for particle flow to achieve balance, particles will pass through outlet with more kinetic energy. Moreover, continuous force network cannot be formed between particles with shear resistance, resulting in weak interlocking action between particles. The orientation of particle in fully eccentric silo is more vertical, especially near the silo wall, which will produce larger local particle volume fraction above the orifice. When the eccentricity exceeds the critical eccentricity, the sparse flow area on the discharge orifice becomes larger, and the particle acceleration area increases accordingly. Research findings may offer valuable insights for the accurate control of discharge rate of eccentric silo, as well as for optimizing silo design.
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spelling doaj-art-daf7c0210aca4369b7d1bbfd642c76902025-08-20T02:59:07ZengMDPI AGAgriculture2077-04722025-02-0115549010.3390/agriculture15050490Numerical Analysis of Influence Mechanism of Orifice Eccentricity on Silo Discharge RateYinglong Wang0Yanlong Han1Anqi Li2Hao Li3Haonan Gao4Ze Sun5Shouyu Ji6Zhuozhuang Li7Fuguo Jia8College of Engineering, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, ChinaCollege of Engineering, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, ChinaCollege of Engineering, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, ChinaCollege of Engineering, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, ChinaCollege of Engineering, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, ChinaCollege of Engineering, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, ChinaCollege of Engineering, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, ChinaCollege of Engineering, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, ChinaCollege of Engineering, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, ChinaEccentric silo is an extremely common type of silo, but it is still unclear how to accurately control the discharge by adjusting eccentric orifices, limiting the application and development of eccentric silo. In this study, the rice particle discharging process on silos with different eccentricities was simulated by the discrete element method (DEM), and the influence mechanism of orifice eccentricity on silo discharge rate was analyzed. The results show that eccentricity has a direct influence on the particle volume fraction and vertical velocity that determine the discharge rate of the silo. In fully eccentric silo, it is not easy for particle flow to achieve balance, particles will pass through outlet with more kinetic energy. Moreover, continuous force network cannot be formed between particles with shear resistance, resulting in weak interlocking action between particles. The orientation of particle in fully eccentric silo is more vertical, especially near the silo wall, which will produce larger local particle volume fraction above the orifice. When the eccentricity exceeds the critical eccentricity, the sparse flow area on the discharge orifice becomes larger, and the particle acceleration area increases accordingly. Research findings may offer valuable insights for the accurate control of discharge rate of eccentric silo, as well as for optimizing silo design.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/15/5/490eccentric siloorifice eccentricitydischarge rateDEM
spellingShingle Yinglong Wang
Yanlong Han
Anqi Li
Hao Li
Haonan Gao
Ze Sun
Shouyu Ji
Zhuozhuang Li
Fuguo Jia
Numerical Analysis of Influence Mechanism of Orifice Eccentricity on Silo Discharge Rate
Agriculture
eccentric silo
orifice eccentricity
discharge rate
DEM
title Numerical Analysis of Influence Mechanism of Orifice Eccentricity on Silo Discharge Rate
title_full Numerical Analysis of Influence Mechanism of Orifice Eccentricity on Silo Discharge Rate
title_fullStr Numerical Analysis of Influence Mechanism of Orifice Eccentricity on Silo Discharge Rate
title_full_unstemmed Numerical Analysis of Influence Mechanism of Orifice Eccentricity on Silo Discharge Rate
title_short Numerical Analysis of Influence Mechanism of Orifice Eccentricity on Silo Discharge Rate
title_sort numerical analysis of influence mechanism of orifice eccentricity on silo discharge rate
topic eccentric silo
orifice eccentricity
discharge rate
DEM
url https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/15/5/490
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