Numerical Analysis of Influence Mechanism of Orifice Eccentricity on Silo Discharge Rate

Yinglong Wang, Yanlong Han, Anqi Li (), Hao Li, Haonan Gao, Ze Sun, Shouyu Ji, Zhuozhuang Li and Fuguo Jia
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Yinglong Wang: College of Engineering, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
Yanlong Han: College of Engineering, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
Anqi Li: College of Engineering, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
Hao Li: College of Engineering, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
Haonan Gao: College of Engineering, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
Ze Sun: College of Engineering, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
Shouyu Ji: College of Engineering, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
Zhuozhuang Li: College of Engineering, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
Fuguo Jia: College of Engineering, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 5, 1-16

Abstract: Eccentric silo is an extremely common type of silo, but it is still unclear how to accurately control the discharge by adjusting eccentric orifices, limiting the application and development of eccentric silo. In this study, the rice particle discharging process on silos with different eccentricities was simulated by the discrete element method (DEM), and the influence mechanism of orifice eccentricity on silo discharge rate was analyzed. The results show that eccentricity has a direct influence on the particle volume fraction and vertical velocity that determine the discharge rate of the silo. In fully eccentric silo, it is not easy for particle flow to achieve balance, particles will pass through outlet with more kinetic energy. Moreover, continuous force network cannot be formed between particles with shear resistance, resulting in weak interlocking action between particles. The orientation of particle in fully eccentric silo is more vertical, especially near the silo wall, which will produce larger local particle volume fraction above the orifice. When the eccentricity exceeds the critical eccentricity, the sparse flow area on the discharge orifice becomes larger, and the particle acceleration area increases accordingly. Research findings may offer valuable insights for the accurate control of discharge rate of eccentric silo, as well as for optimizing silo design.

Keywords: eccentric silo; orifice eccentricity; discharge rate; DEM (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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