Prediction of configurational and granular temperatures of particles using DEM in reciprocating grates

The configurational temperature and granular temperature of particles are simulated by means of discrete element method (DEM) in the reciprocating grate. Motion of mono-sized particles in the reciprocating grate is predicted with the change of frequency and amplitude of moveable grates. The distributions of velocity and volume fraction of particles are obtained. The granular temperature and configurational temperature of particles are calculated from simulated instantaneous velocities and overlaps of particles in a reciprocating grate. The simulated results show that the granular temperatures of particles increase, reach maximum, and then decrease with the increase of solids volume fractions. While the configurational temperature of particles is monotonously increased with the increase of solids volume fraction, indicating that the rate of energy dissipation contributes by deformation of elastic particles at high solids volume fraction. The influence of amplitude and frequency on granular temperature and configurational temperature is analyzed. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.