Design And DEM Simulation Optimization Of Chain Round Pipe Scraper Conveyor

With the development of animal husbandry, the scale of large breeding farms is expanding, if they still adopt the traditional rearing method, it will need massive manpower and material resources, and also increase the chance of infection problems, so they are in great need of mechanized conveying devices to convey pellet feed. In this paper, a new chain round pipe scraper conveyor was designed to attain the goal. Under the precondition of satisfying the throughout, the broken rate should be as low as possible, multi-point blanking can be realized and the cost of equipment is not high to meet the demand of middle and small breading farms. The main contents were as follows:(1) The physical parameters of pellet feed were measured, including the apparent size,bulk density and density; the mechanical properties, such as the restitution coefficient, static friction coefficient and dynamic friction coefficient among pellet feed and pellet feed, pellet feed and steel plate,pellet feed and polyurethane plate were also measured. All the experimental results provided important parameters for the following simulation and design.(2) The total energy loss of pellet feed in collision were simulated during different conveying velocities by EDEM, the sectional area of pellet feed in round pipe were calculated on the basis of constant transportation output, then weighted average of the total energy loss and sectional area was done, the data were fitted by the least square method and the fitting curve was drew by MATLAB, the optimal conveying velocity was obtained at last.(3)After confirming the optimal conveying velocity, the total structure was designed,firstly, the conveying appliance structure was optimized, secondly, the driving appliance was designed and selected, including the design and calculation of the head pulley, sprockets and chain,then the reducer and motor were selected, finally, the head pulley axis was designed. The designed parts were modelled and assembled by Solid Works. The material of frame was seamless carbon steel pipe with thickness of 6 mm, polyurethane was selected as the scraper material to enhance the reliability and life of machine.