Simulation of automatic pneumatic conveying process of automatic feeding system based on computational fluid dynamics-discrete element method

During the pneumatic conveying process of automatic feeding systems for deep-water off-shore cage culture, blockages of pipeline and damage to feed pellets occur easily. To reveal the pneumatic transport characteristics of pellet feed in automatic feeding system, a numerical simulation of gas-solid two-phase flow of feed pellets in a pipeline was carried out. Based on gas-solid two-phase flow theory, both a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model and discrete element model were established. The movement process of feed particles from initial stage to stable stage of pneumatic conveying pipeline was analyzed, and the position distribution of feed particles from initial stage to stable stage was obtained. Pressures at various locations in the pipeline were analyzed and compared to determine the pressure drop between the pipeline inlet and the instant at which the flow reached the steady state. The results provide references for the simulation and optimization design of automatic baiting equipment, which can better guide the movement of feed particles and reduce the collision energy loss of particles at elbow.