Application of a staggered symmetrical spiral groove wheel on a quantitative feeding device and investigation of particle motion characteristics based on DEM

The uniformity of particle flow is the key to the research of quantitative feeding devices. Ensuring particle motion characteristics will help improve the working performance of the device. In this work, a quantitative feeding device with a staggered symmetrical spiral groove wheel is studied by using the DEM method. The effects of the inclination angle and the length of the staggered symmetrical spiral groove wheel on the uniformity of particle flow are examined and analyzed. The results show that with the decrease of the inclination angle, the change of particle discharge method from passive pushing to active sliding, the uniformity of particle flow is improved. A small inclination angle results in less disturbance of seed particles and reduces the uniformity of particle flow. When the feeding rate is constant, shortening the length of the grooved wheel (corresponding to increasing the rotational speed) causes shorter filling time and more leakage filling. Compared with the traditional straight groove wheel and spiral groove wheel, the force on the seed particles is smaller. The appropriate inclination angle and length (e.g.,45°, 50 mm) can effectively enhance the uniform stability of seed particle flow, reduce the risk of seed particles damage, and improve feeding performance. • DEM is used to explore particle motion characteristics in a novel quantitative feeding device. • Particle flow is relatively uniform and continuous in a staggered symmetrical spiral groove wheel. • Inclination angle at 45° gives smoother particle motion and more uniform particles discharge. • Length of 50 mm shows better filling performance and relatively uniform particle flow. • Staggered symmetrical spiral groove wheel can effectively avoid the damage of seed particles.