Optimizing of particle accelerated rotor parameters using the discrete element method

The acceleration capability of a centrifugal jet rotor plays a crucial role in achieving a high injection velocity of powder particles in the centrifugal impact moulding process. In this regard, the focus of this article is on optimization of the runner shape. To this end, the lengths of the first and second acceleration sections (L(1) and L(2)), and the angles between the first and second acceleration sections and between the second and third sections (α(1) and α(2)) are considered as the rotor parameters. Simulations were conducted using multiple discrete elements to explore the influence of multiple input parameters on the response value, and a regression model was established between the parameters and the particle injection rate. The experimental results show that the selected parameters significantly affect the rate of particle injection, and the interactions between the parameters L(1) and L(2), and between L(2) and α(2) have the largest effects. The results reveal that applying the optimized parameters improves the particle injection speed by 7.85% when compared to the pre-optimization model. This improvement in the rotor acceleration provides the basis for improving the efficiency of centrifugal impact moulding of metal powders.