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A discrete element model for simulation of a spinning disc fertilizer spreader

Article  in  Communications in Agricultural and Applied Biological Sciences · February 2005

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A discrete element model for simulation of a spinning disc fertilizer
spreader
P. Van Liedekerke; E. Tijskens; E. Dintwa; H. Ramon

Departement of Agro-engineering and Economics, K.U.Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 30, B-3001 Leuven; e-mail of
corresponding author: paul.vanliedekerke@biw.kuleuven.be

1. introduction
In this paper, a DEM (Discrete Element Method) model is presented and a series of computer experiments
is analyzed and compared to experimental validations. Also, the simulations are compared to experimental
results. The model uses a 3 parameter contact force to calculate impact between particles and other object
such as vanes. The components of the contact forces are typically modeled in terms of a scalar quantity
measuring the material deformation at the contact point. In this paper we use the Hertz-Kono-Kuwabara
model [Kuwabara ,1987] for the normal force component [Schäfer et al., 1996] experienced by the particle
:

(
N = − min 0, δ N
1
2
(k N )
δ N + cN δ&N ) n . (1)

Here, k N and cN are the non-linear contact stiffness and damping parameter, respectively. The quantity
δ N = d − rs is termed the virtual overlap of the contacting bodies.

2. Experiments

First, an estimation of the model parameters was done. For measuring methods of particle stiffness,
damping and friction, we refer to (Van liedekerke, 2006). The particles used for the experiment are from a
domestic fertiliser (quite round shape), with an average radius of 1.2 mm.
The model was then validated using a domestic centrifugal spreader disc of 0.15m radius with 4 vanes
which is driven by an electrical motor at 400 rpm. The feeding of the fertiliser particles was controlled by a
funnel –shaped bin with a circular orifice of 0.011 m radius.

Figure 1 (left) : experimental set-up of the mini spread hall with collector tray, (right) :measured and
experimental amount of fertiliser particles in each basket with the collector tray located at 1m from the disc
centre.
DEM for centrifugal spreaders

Paul Van Liedekerke

Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (K. U. Leuven)
Laboratory for Agricultural Machinery and Processing
Kasteelpark Arenberg 30, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium
http://www.agr.kuleuven.ac.be/aee/amc/amc.htm
 overview

Situation to model : from bin to field

>106 particles!

field

Laboratory for Agricultural Machinery and Processing

 overview

DEM Simulations :

1. Single particle simulations

2. Multi particle simulations

(reality)

Laboratory for Agricultural Machinery and Processing

 1.Single particle system
Why single particle simulations?
1.Comparision of DEM contact forces withthe components of the
Patterson and Reece (1962) equations
-Centrifugal force, Coriolis force, Friction,..

2.Experimental verification of the trajectory

Laboratory for Agricultural Machinery and Processing

 1.Single particle system

DEM Contact-force description of two objects

0.7

N 0.6

0.5

0.4

0.3

0.2

F
T 0.1

0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2
-4
x 10

T= min(Kx,  F) N=C x1/2 dx/dt + Kx3/2 ,

(slip-stick) N>0 (Hertz)

F=T+N function of ,C,K

Laboratory for Agricultural Machinery and Processing
 1. Single particle system : measuring model parameters

Measuring stifness : Compression tests of fertiliser

particles

-Breakage typically around 55 N

force N

break

Hertz: F=Kx3/2
Intrusion mm

Laboratory for Agricultural Machinery and Processing

 1. Single particle system : measuring model parameters
Measuring damping : rebounce experiments of fertiliser
particles

v1
v2

C=f(v1/v2) (theoretical)
or
C via model parameter
optimization

Use of High speed camera

Laboratory for Agricultural Machinery and Processing
 1. Single particle system : measuring model parameters

 : measuring angle (H) of slope at constant speed

tan (H)= 
H

Use of High speed camera

Laboratory for Agricultural Machinery and Processing

 1. Single particle system : measuring model parameters

Patersson –equations versus DEM

Ma=-(5/7µ)Mg + (5/7)Mω²R (rolling against vanes)

or
Ma= -µMg +Mω²R- 2M ω µV (sliding against vanes)

F=C x1/2 dx/dt + Kx3/2 , F>0

T= min(Kx,  F)

Laboratory for Agricultural Machinery and Processing

 Single particle system

forces involved
-rolling force

R=? F

total force =F-R

Line is analytical solution

Laboratory for Agricultural Machinery and Processing

 Single particle system

forces involved
centrifugal force F=mω²R

Line is analytical solution

F
R

Laboratory for Agricultural Machinery and Processing

 Single particle system

Forces involved
-Coriolis force F=2m ωV

V=radial speed

Bouncing against vane (dotted is lower damped particle)

Laboratory for Agricultural Machinery and Processing

 Single particle system

Experimental verification :

Measuring the radial

trajectory
of a particle on a flat disc

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 Single particle system

particle

feeder

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 Single particle system
Radial trajectory plots

o : experiment
- : DEM
ω=470tr

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 Single particle system

Particle rotation ? (spin)

vane

disc

Rotational speed against vane : a) high friction, b) low friction

->a) rolling, b) sliding

Laboratory for Agricultural Machinery and Processing

 Single particle system

Particle rotation (spin)

140rad/s

Sliding on the disc : theoretical should be 220 rad/s

->DEM simulation shows lifting of
particle,probably due to conservation of spin
perpendicular to vane
Laboratory for Agricultural Machinery and Processing
 Single particle system

Conclusions :
1.DEM shows a general very good agreement for 1-
particle situations

2.Tangential contact properties should be further

verified (->lifting of particle??)

Laboratory for Agricultural Machinery and Processing

 2. Multi particle system

-Difference with 1-particle :

- Conical disc
- 2 or more vanes
- Vanes with border are needed
- Multiple collisions involved
- Feeding of the spreader (bin)

Laboratory for Agricultural Machinery and Processing

 2. Multi particle system

- Conical disc

- 2 or more vanes with

border

Cylinders on the vane edges to incorporate random reflection

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 2. Multi particle system

- Multiple collisions

# Particles Computation time

Use of efficient contact detection algorithms is required

Laboratory for Agricultural Machinery and Processing

 2.Multi particle system
Feeding : fill-up of a beam

In stead of a bin, the particles

start from a beam which has
the same shape on its base as
the orifice of the bin

Laboratory for Agricultural Machinery and Processing

 2.Multi particle system

Feeding : adjustable input flow (kg/s)

Constant speed V
Bin
No Gravity

orifice

Random velocity components added

Gravity
Flow(kg/s) = V x (particle density) x (orifice surface)

Laboratory for Agricultural Machinery and Processing

 2.Multi particle system: measurements

Model validation :
1. Spread pattern
measurements

Laboratory for Agricultural Machinery and Processing

 2.Multi particle system: measurements
Summary of the experiment
Domestic fertilizer
Domestic centrifugal spreader
Disc radius : 0.15m
Disc speed : 400rpm
Basket resolution : 0.25m X 0.25m
Number of baskets : 14
Amount of fertiliser per basket-line : 1.5kg
Particle flow : 0.1kg/s

Laboratory for Agricultural Machinery and Processing

 2.Multi particle system: measurements

1.5m Collector tray

1m

spreader
0.5m

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 2.Multi particle system simulation results

Longitudinal
measurements(-) and
simulations(--) at
0.5m,1m and 1.5m from
disc

Laboratory for Agricultural Machinery and Processing

 Multi particle system
2. Mini tester bin

Collector tray

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 Multi particle system

Particle 90°
feeding
area collector

0°

vanes
270°

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 Multi particle system
Cilindrical plots

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 Multi particle system

Laboratory for Agricultural Machinery and Processing

 simulation

Laboratory for Agricultural Machinery and Processing

 simulation

Laboratory for Agricultural Machinery and Processing

 Multi particle system
Conclusions
-There is a good agreement of DEM
simulations with experiments

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Laboratory for Agricultural Machinery and Processing
 steel plate

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 When the particles are released on the disc, they are thrown away by the vanes and collected by a tray of
baskets, which is 3.5m long and consists of 14 baskets of 0.25m x 0.25m. This collecting tray can be
replaced to obtain information about the spread pattern at different locations from the disc (see figure1,
left).

Each experiment consists of releasing 1500g of fertiliser on the spinning disc. The flow rate of the particles
through the bin is constantly kept at 0.1 kg/s. This experiment is repeated for 3 times for 3 different
distances (1.5m, 1m and 0.5m) from the disc in order to have an idea of the static spread pattern.

3. Simulations

In the simulations, 10000 spherical particles are used with the same particle distribution, representing a
total mass of 150g and using the same flow rate. Although the total particle mass is 10 times less than in
the experiment, it was investigated that introducing more particles in the simulation has little effect on the
result. The trajectory through the air was calculated by simple ballistics, using an air resistance
coefficient of 0.5.
Using an efficient contact detection algorithm, one simulation typically takes 30.000 seconds and
represents 1 second of real time.

4. Conclusions

Figure 1 (right) shows a reasonable agreement between simulation and experiment, especially in a
qualitative way. Anyway, a discrete element model might provide interesting information about how a
spread pattern behaves when different geometry is introduced for the spreader without having to do any
experiments. It might also be used as an optimization tool to obtain better spread patterns.

5. References

Kuwabara G; Kono K (1987) Restitution coefficient in a collision between 2 spheres. Japanese Journal of

Applied Physics 26(8):1230-1233

Schäfer J; Dippel S; Wolf D E (1996). Force Schemes in simulations of granular materials. Journal de
Physique (France), 6, 5-20

Van Liedekerke P; Tijskens E; Ramon H (2006). A discrete element model for centrifugal spreaders. I:
single particle simulations. Powder Technologie (in press)

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