This study employs the discrete element method (DEM) to investigate the impact of the widths of lognormal particle size distributions (PSDs) with the same mean particle diameter on hopper discharge behaviors, namely, discharge rate, particle velocities, and size-segregation. Results reveal that (i) the hopper discharge rate decreases as PSD width increases; (ii) the mean discharge rates are constant with time, but the fluctuations increase as the PSD width increases; (iii) the overall size-segregation increases with PSD width; (iv) the overall mean particle diameters of the narrower PSDs do not exceed the initial mean of 5 mm, whereas that of wider ones do; (v) the relationship between PSD width and particle velocities is non-monotonic with no consistent trends; and (vi) no direct correlation exists between particle velocity and size-segregation. The results here provide valuable insights on the behavior of the prevalent polydisperse mixtures in hoppers. © 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2017

中文翻译：

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锥形料斗对数正态粒度分布排放特征的DEM研究

这项研究采用离散元素方法（DEM）来研究平均粒径相同的对数正态粒度分布（PSDs）的宽度对料斗卸料行为（即卸料速率，颗粒速度和尺寸分离）的影响。结果表明：（i）漏斗排放率随着PSD宽度的增加而降低；（ii）平均放电率随时间恒定，但随着PSD宽度的增加，波动也随之增加；（iii）整体尺寸分离随着PSD宽度的增加而增加；（iv）较窄的PSD的总平均粒径不超过5毫米的初始平均值，而较宽的PSD的总平均粒径不超过5毫米。（v）PSD宽度和粒子速度之间的关系是非单调的，没有一致的趋势；（vi）粒子速度和尺寸分离之间不存在直接关系。此处的结果提供了有关漏斗中常见多分散混合物行为的有价值的见解。©2017美国化学工程师学会AIChE的Ĵ，2017年