GAO S, MA L W, TIAN Z,et al.Study on particle motion characteristics during coal loading process of spiral drum based on discrete element numerical calculation[J].Journal of Henan Polytechnic University(Natural Science) ,2026,45(3):77-84.

doi:10.16186/j.cnki.1673-9787.2025010012

Received:2025/01/07

Revised:2025/07/30

Published:2026/04/28

Study on particle motion characteristics during coal loading process of spiral drum based on discrete element numerical calculation

Gao Shan1, Ma Lianwei2, Tian Zhen1,3, Xie Juanjuan1

1.School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering， Zhoukou Normal University， Zhoukou  466000， Henan， China；2.CCTEG Taiyuan Research Institute，Taiyuan  030006， Shanxi， China；3.School of Mechanical and Power Engineering， Henan Polytechnic University， Jiaozuo，  454003， Henan， China

Abstract: Objectives To study the particle motion characteristics of coal particles during the coal loading process of a shearer spiral drum， and to analyze the main factors affecting the coal loading performance of the spiral drum， thereby improving the coal loading efficiency of the shearer， a computer-aided numerical simulation research method combining “measured calibration-discrete element modeling-numerical calculation-industrial verification” is proposed.  Methods Taking a certain type of shearer screw drum as the research object， the study integrates 3D digital modeling and discrete element method （DEM） numerical calculation based on core computer simulation techniques. The intrinsic material parameters are calibrated using coal sample property measurements， and the bonding parameters of coal particles are determined. A numerical model of the screw drum coal loading process is established based on coal properties and the structural and material parameters of the screw drum. The simulation results are validated through industrial tests， and the number and velocity distribution of coal particles in different spatial regions within the envelope area of the screw drum are obtained.  Results The relative error of coal loading efficiency between the DEM numerical simulation and industrial tests is approximately 4.3%， verifying the accuracy of the established numerical model. The simulation results show that during the cutting process， the number of coal particles in Regions I and II （near the coal wall side within the screw drum envelope area） is significantly higher than that in Regions III and IV. In Regions I and II， most coal particles move axially outward along the drum under the action of the screw blade. A small increase in traction speed increases the x- and y- direction velocities of coal particles in Region I， while the z-direction velocity changes from negative to positive； the traction speed has little effect on particle velocity in Region II. Increasing the rotational speed of the screw drum enhances the ability of coal particles in Regions I and II to flow axially out of the envelope region.  Conclusions The discrete element numerical calculation technology can accurately analyze the motion laws of coal particles in different regions within the screw drum envelope space， enabling efficient quantitative calculation of particle motion parameters under various operating conditions. The research results provide a reliable numerical basis for the intelligent matching of shearer operating parameters.

Key words:spiral drum;coal loading process;discrete element method;numerical calculation;motion characteristics