Sensitivity analysis of selected parameters in DEM simulation for maize milling

Abstract

Simulation of size reduction processes is one of the most sophisticated capabilities of the discrete element method (DEM). In this work, a sensitivity analysis of a DEM model for maize milling in a hammer mill is addressed. The effect of the blades’ rotation speed as an operating variable was studied. Calculation strategies were employed to reduce simulation time, determining appropriate values for software parameters as well as their effect on the model outcomes. The optimal value for the Young's modulus of maize, a property inherent to the elasticity of materials, was determined by analyzing this property’s influence on the milling performance. Overall, the variation of the mentioned model parameters, operating variables, and material properties was studied, identifying the most influential ones and their impact on the particle size distribution and milling power consumption. These findings lead to a better understanding of the model’s predictive capabilities, allowing subsequent modeling of the operation at higher scales.