JP5440448B2 - Particle behavior analysis apparatus, particle behavior analysis method, and computer program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a particle behavior analysis apparatus, a particle behavior analysis method, and a computer program, and is particularly suitable for use in analyzing particle behavior using a DEM (Discrete Element Method).

Conventionally, the behavior of particles has been analyzed using DEM.
In Patent Document 1, the behavior of a transported object such as coal or ore transported by a conveyor belt is analyzed. At this time, in Patent Document 1, only a part that directly affects the behavior of the conveyed product, such as a part of the belt conveying surface and a guide plate, is described and analyzed.
In Patent Document 2, the behavior of toner particles in an electrophotographic process is analyzed. At this time, in Patent Document 2, as a representative toner particle (representative particle) in a region obtained by dividing the analysis region, a predetermined ratio of particles in contact with other particles or walls in the region To extract. Then, when the acting force to move the extracted representative particles exceeds the acting force to hold the representative particles, the representative particles are used as moving particles, and the moving particles become a predetermined ratio or more. Only the behavior of particles is calculated, and the behavior of particles in other regions is not calculated.
Conventionally, the analysis time in the DEM has been shortened as described above.

JP 2001-139116 A JP 2007-262453 A

By the way, for example, in the iron making process in the steel industry, coke and iron ore (sintered ore etc.) are conveyed to a blast furnace by a belt conveyor and charged into a predetermined furnace top hopper. In the case of a bell-less blast furnace, coke and iron ore charged in the hopper are charged into a turning chute in the blast furnace main body, and are accumulated in the blast furnace main body from the turning chute. In such a bell-less blast furnace, for example, the behavior of coke or iron ore may be analyzed by changing only the tilt angle of the turning chute.
However, in the conventional technique, even in such a case, it has been necessary to analyze the behavior of coke and iron ore throughout the entire process of the blast furnace. Therefore, when analyzing the behavior of particles in a large-scale facility by DEM, there is a problem that the analysis time cannot be shortened sufficiently.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and analyzes the behavior of particles as accurately as possible while shortening the analysis time when analyzing the behavior of particles in a large-scale facility by DEM. The purpose is to be able to.

  The particle behavior analysis apparatus of the present invention is a particle behavior analysis apparatus that analyzes the behavior of a plurality of particles in an equipment using a discrete element method, and sets a predetermined region of the equipment as a particle data storage position, and A region in front of the particle data storage position in the traveling direction of the particles is set as a calculation target exclusion position, and a region from the particle data storage position to the calculation target exclusion position is set as a first motion region. A setting unit and a predetermined region of the equipment as a calculation target position, and a region on the rear side in the traveling direction of the particle from the calculation target position is set as a particle data generation position, and the calculation target is calculated from the particle data generation position. A second region setting means for setting a region up to a position as a second motion region, and a particle behavior analysis method for analyzing the behavior of the plurality of particles using a discrete element method The particle behavior analysis means includes: a first determination means for determining whether or not the particle has passed the particle data storage position; and the first determination means determines that the particle is the particle. When it is determined that the data storage position has been passed, the position, translation speed and rotational speed of the particle, identification information of the particle in contact with the particle, and the particle and the particle in contact with the particle Storage means for storing information including the force acting on and information indicating the passage time as storage information of particles, and a second for determining whether or not the particles have passed the calculation target exclusion position The determination means and the particles contact with other particles not passing through the particle data storage position after passing through the particle data storage position and passing through the calculation object exclusion position. If it is The particle is moved as if the particle performs a predetermined motion without calculating the force to be calculated, the force acting on the other particle from the particle is calculated, and the other particle is calculated based on the calculated force. A first moving means for moving the particles, and an excluding means for excluding the particles from the analysis target by the discrete element method when the second determining means determines that the particles have passed the calculation target exclusion position; The particle generation means for generating particles at the particle data generation position based on the transit time included in the storage information of the particles after the behavior of all particles in the first motion region is analyzed; Among the storage information of the particles generated by the generating means, the position, translation speed and rotation speed of the particles, identification information of the particles in contact with the particles, the particles and the particles in contact with the particles Read means for reading out the force acting between the children, third determination means for determining whether or not the particles have passed the calculation target position, and the particles have passed the particle data generation position When the particle is in contact with another particle that has passed through the calculation target position after passing through the calculation target position, the particle is not calculated without calculating the force acting on the particle. The particle is moved based on the stored information of the particle read by the reading means as performing a predetermined motion, and the force acting on the other particle from the particle is calculated, and the calculated force is And a second moving means for moving the other particles based on the second moving means.

  The particle behavior analysis method of the present invention is a particle behavior analysis method for analyzing the behavior of a plurality of particles in a facility using a discrete element method, wherein a predetermined region of the facility is set as a particle data storage position, and A region in front of the particle data storage position in the traveling direction of the particles is set as a calculation target exclusion position, and a region from the particle data storage position to the calculation target exclusion position is set as a first motion region. A setting step and a predetermined region of the equipment as a calculation target position, a region on the rear side in the traveling direction of the particles from the calculation target position is set as a particle data generation position, and the calculation target is calculated from the particle data generation position A second region setting step of setting a region up to the position as a second motion region, and a particle behavior analysis method for analyzing the behavior of the plurality of particles using a discrete element method And the particle behavior analysis step includes a first determination step for determining whether or not the particle has passed the particle data storage position, and the particle is determined by the first determination step. When it is determined that the data storage position has been passed, the position, translation speed and rotational speed of the particle, identification information of the particle in contact with the particle, and the particle and the particle in contact with the particle A storage step of storing information including the force acting on the information and information indicating the passage time as storage information of particles, and a second for determining whether or not the particles have passed the calculation target exclusion position Between the determination step and the particle passing through the particle data storage position until the particle passes through the calculation object exclusion position, the particle contacts with other particles that have not passed through the particle data storage position. If it is The particle is moved as if the particle performs a predetermined motion without calculating the force to be calculated, the force acting on the other particle from the particle is calculated, and the other particle is calculated based on the calculated force. When the particle is determined to have passed through the calculation target exclusion position by the first determination step and the second determination step, the exclusion step of excluding the particle from the analysis target by the discrete element method; A particle generation step of generating particles at the particle data generation position based on a transit time included in the storage information of the particles after the behavior of all particles in the first motion region is analyzed; Among the storage information of the particles generated by the generation process, the position, translation speed and rotation speed of the particles, identification information of the particles in contact with the particles, the particles in contact with the particles and the particles A reading step of reading out the force acting between the children, a third determination step of determining whether or not the particle has passed through the calculation target position, and the particle passing through the particle data generation position When the particle is in contact with another particle that has passed through the calculation target position after passing through the calculation target position, the particle is not calculated without calculating the force acting on the particle. The particle is moved based on the storage information of the particle read out by the reading step as a predetermined motion, and the force acting on the other particle from the particle is calculated, and the calculated force is A second moving step of moving the other particles based on the second moving step.

  The computer program of the present invention is a computer program for causing a computer to analyze the behavior of a plurality of particles in a facility using a discrete element method, wherein a predetermined region of the facility is defined as a particle data storage position. In addition, a region in front of the particle data storage position in the traveling direction of the particles is set as a calculation target exclusion position, and a region from the particle data storage position to the calculation target exclusion position is set as a first motion region. The first region setting step and a predetermined region of the equipment as a calculation target position, a region on the rear side in the traveling direction of the particles from the calculation target position is a particle data generation position, the particle data generation position A second region setting step of setting a region from the calculation target position to the calculation target position as a second motion region; and A particle behavior analysis step of analyzing motion using a discrete element method, wherein the particle behavior analysis step determines whether or not the particle has passed through the particle data storage position. When it is determined by the determination step and the first determination step that the particle has passed the particle data storage position, the position of the particle, the translation speed and the rotation speed, and the particle in contact with the particle A storage step of storing information including identification information, the force acting between the particle and the particle in contact with the particle, and information indicating the transit time in a storage medium as storage information of the particle; A second determination step of determining whether or not the particle has passed through the calculation object exclusion position; and between the passage of the particle through the particle data storage position and the passage of the calculation object exclusion position. , Before the particle When it is in contact with other particles that have not passed through the particle data storage position, the particle is moved as if the particle performs a predetermined motion without calculating the force acting on the particle, and the particle The force acting on the other particles is calculated from the first movement step of moving the other particles based on the calculated force and the second determination step, and the particles determine the calculation target exclusion position. If it is determined that the particle has passed, the particle is excluded from the analysis target by the discrete element method, and the behavior of all particles in the first motion region is analyzed, and then included in the particle storage information. Based on the transit time, the particle generation step for generating particles at the particle data generation position, and the storage position of the particles generated by the particle generation step, the position of the particle, the translation speed and the rotation speed, A reading step of reading out the identification information of the particle in contact with the particle and the force acting between the particle and the particle in contact with the particle; and whether the particle has passed the calculation target position A third determination step for determining whether or not the particle has passed through the calculation target position after the particle has passed through the particle data generation position and before the calculation target position. If the particle is in contact with the particle without calculating the force acting on the particle, the particle is assumed to perform a predetermined motion, based on the storage information of the particle read out by the reading step. And a second moving step of calculating a force acting on the other particles from the particles and moving the other particles based on the calculated force.

  According to the present invention, the particle information is stored at the particle data storage position, and the particle is moved as performing a predetermined motion until the particle passes the calculation target exclusion position. At this time, if the particle is in contact with another particle that has not passed the particle data storage position, the force acting on the particle is not calculated, but the force acting on the other particle is calculated. Thereafter, particles are generated at the particle data generation position, and the particles are moved so as to perform a predetermined motion until the particles pass the calculation target position. At this time, if the particle is in contact with another particle that has passed the calculation target position, the force acting on the particle is not calculated, but the force acting on the other particle is calculated. Therefore, it is possible to analyze the behavior of particles individually for each of a plurality of areas of equipment, and when particles disappear or when particles are generated, other particles that are in contact with the particles, It is possible to prevent as much as possible that the particles to be analyzed by the DEM are affected by the disappearance or generation of the particles. Therefore, it is possible to analyze the behavior of particles as accurately as possible while reducing the analysis time when analyzing the behavior of particles in a large-scale facility by DEM.

It is a figure which shows embodiment of this invention and shows an example of schematic structure of a bell-less blast furnace typically. It is a figure which shows embodiment of this invention and shows an example of a functional structure of a particle behavior analyzer. It is a figure which shows embodiment of this invention and shows an example of a constant velocity linear motion area | region set by particle | grain data preservation | save process conceptually. It is a figure which shows embodiment of this invention and shows an example of a constant velocity linear motion area | region set by particle | grain data preservation | save process conceptually. It is a figure which shows embodiment of this invention, and shows an example of the mode of two particles which are contacting each other, and an example of a behavior of particle | grains. It is a flowchart which shows embodiment of this invention and demonstrates an example of a process of the particle behavior analysis apparatus at the time of performing a particle | grain data preservation | save process. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the embodiment of the present invention and continuing from FIG. It is a flowchart which shows an embodiment of the present invention and explains an example of processing of a particle behavior analysis device at the time of performing particle data reading processing. It is a flowchart which shows embodiment of this invention and follows FIG. It is a figure which shows embodiment of this invention and shows an example of the shortening effect of an analysis time in a table form. It is the figure which showed embodiment of this invention and showed an example of the structure of the simulation experiment apparatus of a bell-less type blast furnace. It is a figure which shows embodiment of this invention and shows the result of a simulation experiment, and the result of an analysis.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, a case where the behavior of particles in a bell-less blast furnace is analyzed will be described as an example.
FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a schematic configuration of a bell-less blast furnace.
In FIG. 1, coke and iron ore (sintered ore, etc.) conveyed by the belt conveyor 1 are alternately charged into the fixed hoppers 3 a and 3 b at a constant cycle via the switching chute 2. In this embodiment, coke is charged into the fixed hopper 3a, and iron ore is charged into the fixed hopper 3b.

  The coke and iron ore charged into the fixed hoppers 3a and 3b are alternately loaded into the storage hopper 5 at a constant cycle according to the opening of the upper flow control gates 4a and 4b at the lower ends of the fixed hoppers 3a and 3b. Entered. The coke or iron ore charged in the storage hopper 5 is guided to the turning chute 8 near the top in the blast furnace body 7 according to the opening of the lower flow control gate 6 at the lower end of the storage hopper 5, It is deposited in the blast furnace body 7 in accordance with the operation of the turning chute 8. By doing so, coke layers and iron ore layers are alternately formed in the blast furnace body 7 in the height direction.

The turning chute 8 is configured to be able to change the tilt angle θ and the rotation speed, and by changing these to operate the turning chute 8, coke and iron ore are removed from the circumference of the blast furnace body 7. It can be deposited as uniformly as possible in the direction.
In the present embodiment, such an area of the bell-less blast furnace is divided by the lower flow adjustment gate 6 in the analysis using the DEM. Then, the behavior of the sintered ore when passing through the lower flow control gate 6 is analyzed and stored using a DEM. Thereafter, how the sintered ore charged into the swivel chute 8 from the lower flow control gate 6 accumulates in the blast furnace body 7 is determined using a DEM based on the behavior of the preserved sintered ore. To analyze. In this embodiment, by doing so, for example, when it is desired to analyze the behavior of the sintered ore when only the tilt angle of the swivel chute 8 is changed, the behavior of the sintered ore up to the lower flow control gate 6 is analyzed. The number of times of analyzing can be reduced.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the particle behavior analysis apparatus 100.
The particle behavior analysis apparatus 100 can be realized by using, for example, an information processing apparatus (personal computer) including a CPU, ROM, RAM, HDD, various interfaces, a display, and the like. Below, the function with which the particle behavior analysis apparatus 100 is provided is demonstrated in detail.

(Analysis form designation unit 101)
The analysis form designating unit 101 designates which analysis of the area into which the blast furnace is divided is performed based on the operation of the user interface by the user. That is, in the example shown in FIG. 1, the analysis form designating unit 101 analyzes the behavior of the sintered ore from when it is inserted into the fixed hopper 3b until it reaches the lower flow control gate 6, or the lower flow It is specified whether to analyze the behavior of the sintered ore from the adjustment gate 6 to the turning chute 8 until it is deposited on the blast furnace body 7. In the following description, the process of “analyzing the behavior of the sintered ore from when it is inserted into the fixed hopper 3b until it reaches the lower flow control gate 6” will be referred to as “particle data storage process” as necessary. The process of “analyzing the behavior of the sintered ore from the lower flow control gate 6 to the swirl chute 8 and being deposited on the blast furnace body 7” is referred to as “particle data reading process” as necessary.
In the analysis form designating unit 101, for example, the CPU identifies the content of the user interface operation by the user, determines whether the content of the operation corresponds to the particle data storage processing or the particle data reading processing, and determines This is realized by storing the result in a RAM or the like.

(Particle information acquisition unit 102)
In this embodiment, the sintered ore to be analyzed is regarded as a spherical shape, and the behavior of the spherical particles is analyzed using a DEM. The particle information acquisition unit 102 acquires information regarding the particles. In the following description, “information about particles” is referred to as “particle information” as necessary. Specifically, the particle information acquisition unit 102 acquires information on the mass and size (diameter or radius) of each particle as particle information, and the particle information acquisition unit 102 is a force acting on the particles as described later. The physical property values necessary for obtaining the value are acquired as particle information. In this embodiment, as the physical property values, the spring constant K _n in the normal direction of the particle, the viscosity constant η _{n in} the normal direction of the particle, the friction coefficient μ of the particle, the spring constant K _{t in} the shear direction of the particle, and The viscosity constant η _t and the moment of inertia I in the shear direction of the particles are acquired.
The particle information as described above may be input by a user operating a user interface, or may be read from a portable storage medium attached to the particle behavior analysis apparatus 100. . That is, as long as the particle information is acquired from the outside of the particle behavior analysis apparatus 100, the acquisition method is not particularly limited.
In the particle information acquisition unit 102, for example, the CPU identifies the particle information from the content of the user interface operation by the user and stores it in the HDD or the like, or reads the particle information from a storage medium such as a USB memory and stores it in the HDD or the like. It is realized by doing.

(Blast furnace information acquisition unit 103)
The blast furnace information acquisition unit 103 acquires information regarding the blast furnace. In the following description, “information related to the blast furnace” is referred to as “blast furnace information” as necessary. Specifically, the blast furnace information acquisition unit 103 acquires coordinate information indicating the position of each part of the blast furnace as blast furnace information. Further, the blast furnace information acquisition unit 103 acquires physical property values necessary for obtaining the force acting on the particles as described later as blast furnace information. In this embodiment, the Young's modulus, Poisson's ratio, etc. of each part of the blast furnace are acquired as this physical property value.
The blast furnace information as described above may be input by a user operating a user interface, or may be read from a portable storage medium attached to the particle behavior analysis apparatus 100. . That is, as long as the blast furnace information is acquired from the outside of the particle behavior analysis apparatus 100, the acquisition method is not particularly limited.
In the blast furnace information acquisition unit 103, for example, the CPU identifies the content of the user interface operation by the user or the blast furnace information and stores it in the HDD or the like, or reads the blast furnace information from a storage medium such as a USB memory and stores it in the HDD or the like. It is realized by doing. Note that the coordinates shown in this embodiment are all in the same three-dimensional coordinate system.

(Region setting unit 104)
The region setting unit 104 operates when it is designated by the analysis form designating unit 101 to perform a particle data storage process. The region setting unit 104 acquires the maximum value of the particle diameter (size) based on the particle information (particle size) acquired by the particle information acquisition unit 102. Further, the region setting unit 104 acquires the coordinates of the lower flow control gate 6 as the particle data storage position information based on the blast furnace information acquired by the blast furnace information acquisition unit 103 (coordinates indicating the position of each part of the blast furnace). . Then, the region setting unit 104 sets a constant velocity linear motion region based on the maximum value of the particle diameter (size) and the coordinates of the lower flow adjustment gate 6.

FIG. 3 is a diagram conceptually illustrating an example of a constant velocity linear motion region set in the particle data storage process.
In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the region from the particle data storage position 301 to the calculation target exclusion position 302 below the region is defined as a region where the particle performs constant velocity linear motion (constant velocity linear motion region). Here, the shortest distance from the particle data storage position 301 to the calculation target exclusion position 302 is L ₁ . In FIG. 3, the constant velocity linear motion region is shown as a two-dimensional region, but the constant velocity linear motion region is actually a three-dimensional region.

  In the present embodiment, in the particle data storage process, the behavior of the sintered ore from when it is inserted into the fixed hopper 3b until it reaches the lower flow control gate 6 is analyzed. Therefore, it is conceivable that the particles 311 that have passed through the lower flow adjustment gate 6 are extinguished at that time and excluded from the calculation target. However, when this is done, the force received by the particle 312 in contact with the particle 311 changes due to the absence of the particle 311. Furthermore, the force received by the particles 313 in contact with the particles 312 also changes. As described above, if the particles that have passed through the position where the calculation is terminated (here, the lower flow adjustment gate 6) are extinguished at that time and excluded from the calculation target, the actual behavior of the particles is not accurately reflected. There is a fear.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, calculation by DEM is performed as usual until the center of the particle passes the particle data storage position 301 (see particles 312 to 315).
Thereafter, during the period from when the center of the particle passes through the particle data storage position 301 to when it passes through the calculation target exclusion position 302, the particle is assumed to perform a uniform linear motion (see particles 311 and 316). . Here, when the center of the particle passes through the particle data storage position 301, “the position (coordinates) / translation speed / rotation speed of the particle, the identification number of the particle in contact with the particle, the particle And the force acting between the particles in contact with the particle (the acting force in the normal direction and the shear direction) and the passage time ”are stored. In the following description, these “position / translation speed / rotation speed of particle, number of particle in contact with the particle, force acting between the particle and the particle in contact with the particle, The “passing time” is referred to as “particle storage information” as necessary.

In the present embodiment, when performing the calculation by DEM, “the particle 311 in the constant velocity linear motion” is in contact with the particle 312 outside the constant velocity linear motion (the particle 312 not passing through the particle data storage position 301). "Does not calculate the force exerted by the particle 312. On the other hand, for the “particle 312 outside the constant velocity linear motion” that is in contact with the particle 311 that is in the constant velocity linear motion, the force acting by the particle 311 is calculated.
When the center of the particle passes the calculation target exclusion position 302, the particle disappears and is excluded from the calculation target (see the particle 317).

Here, it is assumed that the shortest distance L ₁ from the particle data storage position 301 to the calculation target exclusion position 302 is a length exceeding the maximum value of the particle diameter (size). In this way, the particles 317 that have passed the calculation target exclusion position 302 do not come into contact with the particles 312 to 315 that have not passed the particle data storage position 301, and the particles 317 that have passed the calculation target exclusion position 302 are This is because the particles 312 to 315 not passing through the particle data storage position 301 are not greatly affected.
In the region setting unit 104, for example, the CPU reads the coordinates of the lower flow control gate 6 and the particle diameter (size) of each particle from the HDD or the like, and the coordinates of the constant velocity linear motion region from the read information. This is realized by setting and storing the set coordinates in a RAM or the like.

(Area setting unit 105)
The region setting unit 105 operates when it is designated by the analysis form designating unit 101 to perform a particle data reading process. The region setting unit 105 acquires the maximum value of the particle diameter (size) based on the particle information (particle size) acquired by the particle information acquisition unit 102. Further, the region setting unit 105 acquires the coordinates of the lower flow control gate 6 as information on the calculation target position based on the blast furnace information acquired by the blast furnace information acquisition unit 103 (coordinates indicating the position of each part of the blast furnace). Then, the region setting unit 105 sets a constant velocity linear motion region based on the maximum value of the particle diameter (size) and the coordinates of the lower flow adjustment gate 6.
FIG. 4 is a diagram conceptually illustrating an example of a constant velocity linear motion region set in the particle data reading process.
In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, an area from the calculation target position 401 to the particle data generation position 402 above (backward in the traveling direction of the sintered ore) is an area where the particles perform linear linear motion. (Constant velocity linear motion region). Here, the shortest distance from the computed object position 401 to a particle data generation position 402 is L _2. In FIG. 4, the constant velocity linear motion region is shown as a two-dimensional region as in FIG. 3, but the constant velocity linear motion region is actually a three-dimensional region.

  In this embodiment, in the particle data reading process, the behavior of the sintered ore from the lower flow control gate 6 to the swirl chute 8 and being deposited on the blast furnace body 7 is analyzed. Therefore, it is conceivable that the lower flow control gate 6 reads the “particle storage information” stored in the particle data storage process described above, and sequentially generates particles according to the information. However, if this is done, for example, the force received by the particle 411 cannot be determined in consideration of the influence of the particle 412 in contact with the particle 411 in FIG. Therefore, there is a possibility that the actual behavior of particles is not accurately reflected.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, particles are generated before passing through the calculation target position 401. That is, on the basis of the passage time included in the “particle storage information” stored in the particle data storage process, particles are stored at a particle data generation position 402 at a time interval based on the passage time from a particle stored earlier. The particles are sequentially generated at positions corresponding to “coordinates indicating the position of the particle” indicated in the storage information of the particle (see particles 412 and 413). Thereafter, until the center of the particle passes through the calculation target position 401, the particle is assumed to perform a uniform linear motion (see particles 412, 413). The motion at this time is defined by the translational speed and the rotational speed included in the storage information of the particles.

Thereafter, when the center of the particle passes the calculation target position, the particle is set as a particle to be calculated by DEM as usual (see particles 411 and 414 to 416).
In the present embodiment, when performing the calculation by DEM, the “particle 412 in the constant velocity linear motion” that is in contact with the particle 411 outside the constant velocity linear motion (the particle 411 that has passed the calculation target position 401). The force acting by the particle 411 is not calculated. On the other hand, for “a particle 411 outside the constant velocity linear motion” that is in contact with the particle 412 in the constant velocity linear motion, the force acting on the particle 412 is calculated.

Here, it is assumed that the shortest distance L ₂ from the calculation target position 401 to the particle data generation position 402 is a length exceeding the maximum value of the particle diameter (size). This is because all particles 412, 413 that may affect the particles 411, 414 to 416 at the calculation target position 401 can be generated in the calculation target region.
In the area setting unit 105, for example, the CPU reads the coordinates of the lower flow control gate 6 and the particle diameter (size) of each particle from the HDD or the like, and the coordinates of the constant velocity linear motion area are read from the read information. This is realized by setting and storing the set coordinates in a RAM or the like.

(Particle behavior analysis unit 106)
The particle behavior analysis unit 106 analyzes the behavior of particles using a DEM.
First, an example of the operation of the particle behavior analysis unit 106 in the particle data storage process will be described.
The particle behavior analysis unit 106 includes the particle information acquired by the particle information acquisition unit 102, the blast furnace information acquired by the blast furnace information acquisition unit 103, and the content of the user interface operation (information regarding particle arrangement) by the user. Based on this, each particle is placed at a desired position. Further, the particle behavior analysis unit 106 assigns a particle number for identifying the particle to each arranged particle and sets 0 as a flag value of each particle. A particle flag value of 0 indicates that the particle is not in the constant velocity linear motion region.

Then, the particle behavior analysis unit 106 determines whether or not the particles are in contact with other particles or a structure in the blast furnace.
When the particles are in contact with other particles or a structure in the blast furnace, the particle behavior analysis unit 106 obtains the repulsive force in the normal direction and the shear direction to solve the translational motion equation and the force around the center of gravity. For each particle, the force acting on the particle is obtained by obtaining the moment of motion and solving the equation of motion of rotation, and each particle is moved based on the result.

  The particle behavior analysis unit 106 performs such contact determination processing and movement processing of each particle at predetermined time intervals. And the behavior in the analysis time of each particle is obtained from the result. Note that the particles move by giving a condition that breaks the balance of forces generated between the particles during the analysis time.

Specifically, the particle behavior analysis unit 106 obtains the repulsive force F _{n, ij} in the normal direction in the contact region of the particles i and j by the following equation (1), for example, and by the following equation (2): The repulsive force F _{t, ij} in the shear direction in the contact region of the particles i and j is obtained, the translational equation of motion of the following equation (3) is solved, and the equation of rotation is solved by the following equation (4).

FIG. 5 is a diagram conceptually showing an example of the state of the two particles 501 and 502 in contact with each other (FIG. 5A) and an example of the behavior of the particle 503 (FIG. 5B). . The parameters of the equations (1) to (4) will be described with reference to FIG.
In the equation (1), K _n is a spring constant in the normal direction and is acquired by the particle information acquisition unit 102. However, K _n can also be set according to the distance H and δ _n in FIG. Δu _{n, ij} is a relative translational displacement in the normal direction of the center of gravity between the two particles i and j. η _n is a viscosity constant in the normal direction and is acquired by the particle information acquisition unit 102. n _ij is a unit vector in the normal direction. Δt is a predetermined time interval and is set in advance.

In the equation (2), min [A, B] means that the smaller one of A and B is adopted. μ is a friction coefficient, which is acquired by the particle information acquisition unit 102. However, μ can be varied depending on the state or the like. t _ij is a unit vector in the shear direction. K _t is a spring constant in the shear direction and is acquired by the particle information acquisition unit 102. However, K _t can be set according to the distance H, δ _n , and δ _t in FIG. Δut _{, ij} is the relative translational displacement in the shear direction of the center of gravity between the two particles i, j. [Delta] [phi _ij is the relative rotational displacement of the contact area caused by the rotation of the particles, for example, be represented by the difference between the rotational displacement phi _j of rotational displacement phi _i and particles 502 of particle 501 shown in FIG. 5 (a) Can do. η _t is a viscosity constant in the shear direction and is acquired by the particle information acquisition unit 102. Δt is a predetermined time interval and is set in advance.
The Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio included in the blast furnace information acquired by the blast furnace information acquisition unit 103 determine K _n and η _n shown in the equation (1) and K _t and η _t shown in the equation (2). It is used when.

In the equation (3), v is the velocity of the particle for analysis (see FIG. 5). * on v represents time differentiation. F is the total sum of the repulsive forces in the shear direction and the normal direction. m is the mass of the particle and is acquired by the particle information acquisition unit 102. g is a gravitational acceleration. When the particles are not in contact with other particles or structures, the first term on the right side of equation (3) is 0 (zero).
In the equation (4), ω is the angular velocity of the particles (see FIG. 5). * on ω indicates time differentiation. M is the total sum of moments of force, and is obtained from the repulsive forces F _{n, ij} and F _{t, ij in} the shear direction and the normal direction. I is a moment of inertia and is acquired by the particle information acquisition unit 102.

  Incidentally, as a method for analyzing the behavior of particles (an analysis method executed by the particle behavior analysis unit 106), various known analysis methods for the behavior of particles in the DEM can be applied. The method is not limited to the method using the formula (4).

  After moving the particle in this way, when there is a particle whose center has passed the particle data storage position 301, the particle behavior analysis unit 106 changes the value of the flag of the particle from 0 to 1. A particle flag value of 1 indicates that the particle is in the constant velocity linear motion region. Then, the particle behavior analysis unit 106 stores “particle storage information” when the center passes the particle data storage position 301. As described above, the storage information of the particles acts between the position / translation speed / rotation speed of the particles, the number of the particles in contact with the particles, the particles and the particles in contact with the particles. Power / passing time.

The particle behavior analysis unit 106 does not calculate the above-described equations (1) to (4) for particles having a flag value of 1. Further, the particle behavior analysis unit 106 causes the particle to move at a constant linear velocity based on the “coordinates indicating the position and translation speed” of the particle when the center passes the particle data storage position 301, and the flag value is 1 particle is moved. The force acting on the particles having the flag value of 1 from the particles having the flag value of 1 is the storage information of the particles having the flag value of 1 (translation speed, rotational speed, number of the contacting particles, acting force) ).
When there is a particle whose center has passed the calculation target exclusion position 302, the particle behavior analysis unit 106 changes the value of the flag of the particle from 1 to 2. A particle flag value of 2 indicates that the particle is excluded from the calculation target. Therefore, particles having a flag value of 2 are treated as not existing.

Next, an example of the operation of the particle behavior analysis unit 106 in the particle data reading process will be described.
First, as described above, the particle behavior analysis unit 106, based on the passage time included in the “particle storage information” stored in the particle data storage process, from the earlier stored particles at time intervals based on the passage time, Particles are sequentially generated at the particle data generation position 402 (see particles 412, 413). In the present embodiment, the particle behavior analysis unit 106 counts the passage time (the time included in the particle storage information) of the particle stored first in the particle data storage process as zero. Then, the particle behavior analysis unit 106 becomes the generation target when the value obtained by subtracting the passage time of the particle stored first in the particle data storage process from the passage time of the particle to be generated matches the time measured. Generate particles. Further, as described above, the particle data generation position 402 corresponds to the “particle position (coordinates)” included in the particle storage information.
Here, in this embodiment, since the particle data storage position 301 and the calculation target position 401 are set to the same position (lower flow adjustment gate 6), in FIG. 3 and FIG. It is preferable to generate particles at the particle data generation position 402 so that the relationship between the passage times of 301 and the relationship between the passage times of the calculation target positions 401 in the plurality of particles are the same. For example, when the difference between the “passing time of the particle data storage position 301” of the first stored particle and the “passing time of the particle data storage position 301” of the second stored particle is t seconds, 1 The difference between the “passing time of the calculation target position 401” of the second generated particle and the “passing time of the calculation target position 401” of the second generated particle is also preferably t seconds. To do this, for example, the shortest distance L ₁ from the particle data storage position 301 to the calculation target exclusion position 302 is the same as the shortest distance L ₂ from the calculation target position 401 to the particle data generation position 402, and The constant velocity linear motion region from the particle data storage position 301 to the calculation target exclusion position 302 and the constant velocity linear motion region from the calculation target position 401 to the particle data generation position 402 may be made the same.

  The particle behavior analysis unit 106 sets the value of the flag of the particle generated at the particle data generation position 402 to 1. A particle flag value of 1 indicates that the particle is in the constant velocity linear motion region. The particle behavior analysis unit 106 does not calculate the above-described equations (1) to (4) for particles having a flag value of 1. In addition, the particle behavior analysis unit 106 moves the particles by linearly moving the particles at a constant speed based on the storage information (position, translational velocity) of the particles when the center passes the particle data storage position 301. Thereafter, when there is a particle whose center has passed the calculation target position 401, the particle behavior analysis unit 106 changes the value of the flag of the particle from 1 to 0. A particle flag value of 0 indicates that the particle has exited the constant velocity linear motion region. Then, as in the “particle processing with a flag value of 0” in the particle data storage processing, the contact determination processing and the movement processing (see equations (1) to (4)) are performed at predetermined time intervals. From the result, the behavior of each particle in the analysis time is obtained. As described above, the force acting on the particles having the flag value of 1 from the particles having the flag value of 1 is the storage information of the particles having the flag value of 1 (translation speed, rotational speed, particles in contact with each other). Number, acting force).

  In the particle behavior analysis unit 106, for example, the CPU reads the coordinates of the constant velocity linear motion region and the particle information from the RAM and the like, and also reads the particle information and the blast furnace information from the HDD and executes the above-described arithmetic processing. This is realized by storing the execution result in a RAM or the like.

(Particle behavior display unit 107)
The particle behavior display unit 107 displays “the behavior of each particle” analyzed by the particle behavior analysis unit 106 on a display.
In the particle behavior display unit 107, for example, the CPU performs processing for reading information on the analysis result of the behavior of each particle from the HDD or the like and displaying the information on the display, and the display displays the behavior of each particle in the analysis target time. This is realized by displaying.

(Operation flowchart of particle behavior analysis apparatus 100)
Next, an example of processing of the particle behavior analysis apparatus 100 when performing particle data storage processing will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Here, it is specified that the particle data storage processing is performed by the analysis form designating unit 101, the particle information is acquired by the particle information acquiring unit 102, and the blast furnace information is acquired by the blast furnace information acquiring unit 103. Will be described as having been acquired.
First, in step S <b> 1 in FIG. 6A, the region setting unit 104 acquires the maximum value of the particle diameter (size) based on the particle information (particle size).
Next, in step S <b> 2, the region setting unit 104 acquires the coordinates of the lower flow adjustment gate 6 as information on the particle data storage position.
Next, in step S3, the region setting unit 104 determines the constant velocity based on the maximum value of the particle diameter (size) acquired in step S1 and the coordinates of the lower flow adjustment gate 6 acquired in step S2. A linear motion region is set (see FIG. 3).

Next, in step S <b> 4, the particle behavior analysis unit 106 includes the particle information acquired by the particle information acquisition unit 102, the blast furnace information acquired by the blast furnace information acquisition unit 103, and the contents of the user interface operation by the user (particles Each particle is arranged at a desired position on the basis of the information on the arrangement of the particle), a particle number for identifying the particle is assigned to each arranged particle, and 0 is set as a flag value of each particle.
Next, in step S5, the particle behavior analysis unit 106 sets the analysis time t to Δt. This Δt corresponds to Δt in the equations (1) and (2).
Next, in step S6, the particle behavior analysis unit 106 selects one unselected particle.

  Next, in step S7, the particle behavior analysis unit 106 determines whether or not the center of the particle selected in step S6 has passed the particle data storage position 301 in the constant velocity linear motion region (see FIG. 3). . If the result of this determination is that the center of the particle selected in step S6 has not passed the particle data storage position 301 in the constant velocity linear motion region, steps S8 and S9 are omitted and the process proceeds to step S10 described later. . On the other hand, if the center of the particle selected in step S6 has passed the particle data storage position 301 in the constant velocity linear motion region, the process proceeds to step S8.

In step S8, the particle behavior analysis unit 106 changes the flag value of the particle selected in step S6 from 0 to 1.
Next, in step S9, the particle behavior analysis unit 106 stores the storage information of the particles selected in step S6. As described above, the storage information of the particle includes “the position / translation speed / rotation speed of the particle, the number of the particle in contact with the particle, the particle, and the particle when the center passes the particle data storage position 301. Information on the force acting between the particles in contact with each other and the transit time.
Next, in step S10, the particle behavior analysis unit 106 determines whether or not the center of the particle selected in step S6 has passed the calculation target exclusion position 302 in the constant velocity linear motion region (see FIG. 3). . If the result of this determination is that the center of the particle selected in step S6 has not passed the calculation target exclusion position 302 of the constant velocity linear motion region, step S11 is omitted and the step of FIG. Proceed to S12. On the other hand, if the center of the particle selected in step S6 has passed the calculation target exclusion position 302 in the constant velocity linear motion region, the process proceeds to step S11.
In step S11, the particle behavior analysis unit 106 changes the value of the flag of the particle selected in step S6 from 1 to 2.

Next, in step S12 of FIG. 6-2, the particle behavior analysis unit 106 determines whether or not the particles selected in step S6 are in contact with other particles or a structure in the blast furnace. As a result of this determination, when the particles selected in step S6 are not in contact with other particles or structures in the blast furnace, the force acting on the particles is not calculated, so steps S13 to S16 are omitted. It progresses to step S17 mentioned later. On the other hand, if the particles selected in step S6 are in contact with other particles or a structure in the blast furnace, the process proceeds to step S13.
In step S13, the particle behavior analysis unit 106 selects one unselected one of the contact partners (particles or structures) of the particles selected in step S6.
Next, in step S14, the particle behavior analysis unit 106 determines whether the value of the flag of the particle selected in step S6 is zero. As a result of this determination, if the value of the flag of the particle selected in step S6 is not 0, the force acting on the particle selected in step S6 is not calculated from the particle selected in step S13. Skip to step S16, which will be described later. On the other hand, if the value of the flag of the particle selected in step S6 is 0, the process proceeds to step S15.

In step S15, the particle behavior analysis unit 106 obtains the force (repulsive force in the shear direction and the normal direction) acting on the particle selected in step S6 by the equations (1) and (2), and the result Based on the above, the velocity v of the particle is obtained from equation (3), and the angular velocity ω of the particle is obtained from equation (4). Here, the force acting on the particle having the flag value of 1 from the particle having the flag value of 1 is calculated based on the “translation speed, rotational speed, and acting force” of the particle having the flag value of 1.
Next, in step S16, the particle behavior analysis unit 106 determines whether all the contact partners (particles or structures) of the particles selected in step S6 have been selected. As a result of this determination, if all the contact partners (particles or structures) of the particles selected in step S6 have not been selected, the process returns to step S13. On the other hand, when all the contact partners (particles or structures) of the particles selected in step S6 are selected, the process proceeds to step S17.

In step S17, the particle behavior analysis unit 106 determines whether all the particles arranged in step S4 have been selected. If all the particles are not selected as a result of this determination, the process returns to step S6 in FIG. On the other hand, if all the particles have been selected, the process proceeds to step S18. In step S18, the particle behavior analysis unit 106 moves each particle based on the result of the calculation in step S15. Here, with respect to particles for which the flag value is set to 1, the particles are moved by a uniform linear motion.
Next, in step S19, the particle behavior analysis unit 106 determines whether or not the analysis time t has reached the analysis end time T. The analysis end time T is set in advance based on, for example, a user interface operation by the user.
As a result of this determination, if the analysis time t is not equal to the analysis end time T, the process proceeds to step S20, and the particle behavior analysis unit 106 advances the analysis time t by Δt and updates the analysis time t. Then, the process returns to step S6 in FIG. 6A to determine the behavior of each analysis particle at the updated analysis time t.
On the other hand, when the analysis time t reaches the analysis end time T, the process proceeds to step S21, and the particle behavior display unit 107 displays each analysis particle from the analysis start time (analysis time t = 0) to the analysis end time T. The behavior of is displayed on the display. And the process by the flowchart of FIG. 6 is complete | finished.

Next, an example of processing of the particle behavior analysis apparatus 100 when performing particle data reading processing will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Here, it is specified that the particle data reading process is performed by the analysis form designating unit 101, the particle information is acquired by the particle information acquiring unit 102, and the blast furnace information is acquired by the blast furnace information acquiring unit 103. Will be described as having been acquired.
First, in step S31 of FIG. 7-1, the region setting unit 105 acquires the maximum value of the particle diameter (size) based on the particle information (particle size).
Next, in step S32, the region setting unit 105 acquires the coordinates of the lower flow adjustment gate 6 as information on the calculation target position.
Next, in step S33, the region setting unit 105 determines the constant velocity based on the maximum value of the particle diameter (size) acquired in step S31 and the coordinates of the lower flow adjustment gate 6 acquired in step S32. Set the linear motion area.

Next, in step S34, the particle behavior analysis unit 106 sets the analysis time t to Δt. This Δt corresponds to Δt in the equations (1) and (2).
Next, in step S35, the particle behavior analysis unit 106 selects the particle having the earliest transit time included in the “particle storage information” stored in step S9 of FIG. It is generated at a position corresponding to the “particle position (coordinates)” included in the particle storage information (see FIG. 4). At this time, the particle behavior analysis unit 106 is in contact with the particle position / translation speed / rotation speed, the particle number in contact with the particle, the particle, and the particle out of the generated particle storage information. Read the information of the force acting between the particles.
Next, in step S36, the particle behavior analysis unit 106 sets 1 as the flag value of the generated particle.
Next, in step S37, the particle behavior analysis unit 106 selects one unselected particle.

Next, in step S38, the particle behavior analysis unit 106 determines whether or not the center of the particle selected in step S37 has passed the calculation target position 401 of the constant velocity linear motion region (see FIG. 4). If the result of this determination is that the center of the particle selected in step S37 has not passed the calculation target position 401 of the constant velocity linear motion region, step S39 is omitted and step S40 in FIG. move on.
On the other hand, if the center of the particle selected in step S37 has passed the calculation target position 401 of the constant velocity linear motion region, the process proceeds to step S39. In step S39, the particle behavior analysis unit 106 changes the value of the flag of the particle selected in step S37 from 1 to 0.

Next, in step S40 of FIG. 7-2, the particle behavior analysis unit 106 determines whether or not the particles selected in step S37 are in contact with other particles or a structure in the blast furnace. Determine based on. As a result of this determination, when the particles selected in step S37 are not in contact with other particles or structures in the blast furnace, the force acting on the particles is not calculated, so steps S41 to S44 are omitted. It progresses to step S45 mentioned later. On the other hand, if the particles selected in step S37 are in contact with other particles or a structure in the blast furnace, the process proceeds to step S41.
In step S41, the particle behavior analysis unit 106 selects one unselected one of the contact partners (particles or structures) of the particles selected in step S37.
Next, in step S42, the particle behavior analysis unit 106 determines whether or not the flag value of the particle selected in step S37 is zero. As a result of this determination, if the value of the flag of the particle selected in step S37 is not 0, the force acting on the particle selected in step S37 is not calculated from the particle selected in step S41. Skip to step S44, which will be described later. On the other hand, if the value of the flag of the particle selected in step S37 is 0, the process proceeds to step S43.

In step S43, the particle behavior analysis unit 106 obtains the force (repulsive force in the shear direction and the normal direction) acting on the particle selected in step S37 by the equations (1) and (2), and the result Based on the above, the velocity v of the particle is obtained from equation (3), and the angular velocity ω of the particle is obtained from equation (4). Here, the force acting on the particle having the flag value of 1 from the particle having the flag value of 1 is the storage information of the particle having the flag value of 1 (translation speed, rotational speed, number of the contacting particle, action Force).
Next, in step S44, the particle behavior analysis unit 106 determines whether or not all the contact partners (particles or structures) of the particles selected in step S37 have been selected. As a result of the determination, if all the contact partners (particles or structures) of the particles selected in step S6 have not been selected, the process returns to step S41. On the other hand, when all the contact partners (particles or structures) of the particles selected in step S37 are selected, the process proceeds to step S45.

In step S45, the particle behavior analysis unit 106 determines whether all generated particles have been selected. If all the particles have not been selected as a result of this determination, the process returns to step S37 in FIG. On the other hand, if all the particles have been selected, the process proceeds to step S46. In step S46, the particle behavior analysis unit 106 moves each particle based on the calculation result in step S43. Here, for particles having a flag value of 1, the particles are moved by linearly moving at a constant speed based on the storage information (position, translational velocity) of the particles.
Next, in step S47, the particle behavior analysis unit 106 determines whether or not the analysis time t has reached the analysis end time T. As a result of the determination, if the analysis time t becomes the analysis end time T, the process proceeds to step S48, and the particle behavior display unit 107 displays each of the analysis time from the analysis start time (analysis time t = 0) to the analysis end time T. The behavior of the particles for analysis is displayed on the display. And the process by the flowchart of FIG. 7 is complete | finished.

On the other hand, if the analysis time t is not equal to the analysis end time T, the process proceeds to step S49. In step S49, the particle behavior analysis unit 106 advances the analysis time t by Δt and updates the analysis time t.
Next, in step S50, the particle behavior analysis unit 106 determines whether or not it is time to generate particles based on the passage time included in the “particle storage information” stored in step S9 of FIG. judge. As described above, in this embodiment, the particle behavior analysis unit 106 counts the passage time of the particle stored first in step S35 of FIG. 7-1 as 0, and from the passage time of the particle to be generated. When the value obtained by subtracting the passage time of the particle stored first in the particle data storage process coincides with the time measured, it is determined that it is time to generate the particle to be generated.

  If the result of this determination is that it is not time to generate particles, processing returns to step S37 in FIG. On the other hand, if it is time to generate particles, the process proceeds to step S51. In step S51, the particle behavior analysis unit 106 determines that the particle determined to be generated in step S50 is the “particle position” included in the storage information of the particle among the particle data generation position 402. It is generated at a position corresponding to (coordinate) "(see FIG. 4). At this time, the particle behavior analysis unit 106 reads out storage information of the generated particles. Then, the process returns to step S36 in FIG.

(Reducing analysis time)
FIG. 8 is a table showing an example of the effect of shortening the analysis time when the area of the bell-less blast furnace is divided by the lower flow control gate 6 and the behavior of the sintered ore is analyzed as in this embodiment. It is.
In FIG. 8, A shows a calculation load (calculation load of the particle data storage process) when analyzing the behavior of the sintered ore after being charged into the fixed hopper 3b until reaching the lower flow control gate 6. . X indicates the number of processing levels of the particle data storage process. B shows the calculation load (calculation load of the particle data reading process) when analyzing the behavior of the sintered ore from the lower flow control gate 6 to the swirl chute 8 and being deposited on the blast furnace body 7. Y indicates the number of processing levels of the particle data reading process.
For example, as shown in the first line of FIG. 8, when the behavior of the sintered ore is analyzed without dividing the area of the bell-less blast furnace, a calculation load of 120 (= (10 + 2) × 10) is generated as a whole. On the other hand, when the area of the bell-less blast furnace is divided by the lower flow control gate 6 and the behavior of the sintered ore is analyzed as in this embodiment, 30 (= (10 × 1) + (2 × 10) ) Calculation load occurs. Therefore, the calculation load is a quarter of the case where the area of the bell-less blast furnace is not divided (that is, the analysis time can be increased four times).

(Validity of analysis results)
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a bell-less blast furnace simulation experiment apparatus. In addition, in FIG. 9, the structure of the simulation experiment apparatus of a bell-less type blast furnace is simplified and shown for convenience of description.
In FIG. 9, a bellless type blast furnace simulation experimental apparatus includes a simulated hopper 91 imitating the fixed hopper 3b and the storage hopper 5, a simulated swirl chute 92 imitating the swivel chute 8, and a simulated blast furnace 93 imitating the blast furnace main body 7. Have
Here, in order to investigate the behavior of the sintered ore, a simulation experiment was performed under the following conditions.
Size of one sintered ore: 3 mm to 5 mm
Total weight of sintered ore: 10kg
Density of sintered ore: 3300 kg / m ³
The height H of the outlet of the simulated hopper 91: 600 mm
Tilt angle θ of the simulated turning chute 92: 40 °
Simulated blast furnace 93 size: width 360mm, depth 160mm

Moreover, the behavior of the sintered ore was analyzed by the particle behavior analysis apparatus 100 of the present embodiment under the following conditions.
Sample and apparatus conditions: Same as simulation experiment Division position: Bottom 94 of simulated hopper 91
Δt: 7.5 × 10 ⁻⁷ sec
L ₁ , L ₂ : 6 mm (= 1.2 times the maximum diameter of sintered ore (= 5 mm))

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the result of the simulation experiment (FIG. 10A) and the result of the analysis (FIG. 10B).
As a result of the simulation experiment shown in FIG. 10A, the inclination angle of the sintered ore was 35.5 °. On the other hand, as a result of the analysis shown in FIG. 10B, the inclination angle of the sintered ore was 35.9 °. As described above, when the analysis is performed as in the present embodiment, it is understood that the behavior of the particles can be analyzed as accurately as possible.

(Summary)
As described above, in this embodiment, in the particle data storage process, calculation by DEM is performed as usual until the center of the particle passes the particle data storage position 301. Thereafter, until the center of the particle passes the calculation target exclusion position 302, the particle is linearly moved at a constant speed so that force from other particles or structures does not act on the particle. Here, the particle information (particle storage information) when the particle center passes the particle data storage position 301 is stored. Thereafter, when the center of the particle passes the calculation object exclusion position 302, the particle is excluded from the calculation object. In the particle data reading process, the particles are sequentially generated at the particle data generation position 402 based on the storage information of the particles, and until the center of the particle passes the calculation target position 401, the particles are linearly moved at a constant velocity, The particles should not be subjected to forces from other particles or structures. Thereafter, when the center of the particle passes the calculation target position 401, the calculation is performed by DEM as usual.
As described above, when the area of the bell-less blast furnace is divided and the behavior of particles is analyzed individually for each divided area, the amount of memory used when analyzing the behavior of particles in a large-scale facility by DEM And the analysis time can be shortened.
Further, if the particle is excluded from the calculation target at the particle data storage position 301 or the particle is generated at the calculation target position 401, this affects the behavior of the particle in contact with the particle, and the actual particle There is a risk that it does not accurately reflect the behavior. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, even if the particle data storage position 301 is passed, the particle is not excluded from the calculation target, and the particle is generated at the particle data generation position 402 before the calculation target position 401. A force is applied only to the particles in contact with the particles, and no force is applied to the particles. Therefore, the behavior of particles in a large-scale facility can be analyzed as accurately as possible by DEM.

(Modification)
In this embodiment, the area of the bell-less blast furnace is divided by the lower flow adjustment gate 6, but the place to be divided is not limited to the lower flow adjustment gate 6. For example, the area of the bell-less blast furnace may be divided by the belt conveyor 1. Further, the area of the bell-less blast furnace may be divided into three or more areas.
Further, in this embodiment, the constant velocity linear motion region is set, and the particles perform the constant velocity linear motion region in the constant velocity linear motion region, but if the motion of the particles in these regions can be grasped, It is not always necessary for the particles to have a uniform linear motion in these regions. For example, the particles may be accelerated by gravitational acceleration.

In this embodiment, it is determined whether or not the center of the particle has passed the particle data storage position 301, the calculation target exclusion position 302, the calculation target position 401, and the particle data generation position 402. If it is determined whether or not the predetermined position has passed, it is not always necessary to do so. For example, you may make it determine whether the lower end part of particle | grains passed.
In this embodiment, the passage time is stored as the storage information of the particles. This passing time may not be the time itself. For example, the passage time may be the number of repetitions of step S20 in FIG.

In the present embodiment, the particle data storage position 301 and the calculation target position 401 are set to the same position (lower flow adjustment gate 6). However, they do not have to be the same position, and the calculation target position 401 is set to an arbitrary position. Can be set to
In the present embodiment, the case of analyzing the behavior of the sintered ore in the blast furnace has been described as an example, but the particles to be analyzed are not limited to the sintered ore. Further, the analysis area is not limited to the blast furnace. For example, the behavior of toner particles in an electrophotographic process may be analyzed.

In the present embodiment, for example, the first area setting unit is realized by using the area setting unit 104. Here, the lower region of the bell-less blast furnace is an example of the region on the front side in the traveling direction of the particles, and the constant velocity linear motion region (see FIG. 3) set in the particle data storage process is the first region. It is an example of a motion area. Further, for example, the second area setting unit is realized by using the area setting unit 105. Here, the upper region of the bell-less blast furnace is an example of the rear region in the particle traveling direction, and the constant velocity linear motion region (see FIG. 4) set in the particle data reading process is the second region. It is an example of a movement area | region. Further, for example, a particle behavior analysis unit is realized by using the particle behavior analysis unit 106.
Specifically, for example, when the particle behavior analysis unit 106 performs the process of step S7, the first determination unit is realized. Further, for example, the particle behavior analysis unit 106 performs the process of step S9, thereby realizing a storage unit. Further, for example, the particle behavior analysis unit 106 performs the process of step S10, thereby realizing the second determination unit. In addition, for example, the first behavior unit is realized by the particle behavior analysis unit 106 performing the processes of steps S15 and S18. In addition, for example, the particle behavior analysis unit 106 performs the process of step S <b> 11 to realize the exclusion unit.
In addition, for example, the particle behavior analysis unit 106 performs the processing of steps S35 and S51, thereby realizing a particle generation unit. In addition, for example, the particle behavior analysis unit 106 performs the processing of steps S35 and S51, thereby realizing a reading unit. In addition, for example, the particle behavior analysis unit 106 performs the process of step S38, thereby realizing the third determination unit. In addition, for example, the particle behavior analysis unit 106 performs the processes of steps S43 and S46, thereby realizing the second moving unit.
In addition, the fact that the operator gives an instruction to analyze the relatively upper process area of the facility is realized, for example, when the analysis form designating unit 101 is designated to perform the particle data storage process. The In addition, the fact that the operator gives an instruction to analyze the relatively lower process area of the facility is realized by, for example, the analysis form designating unit 101 specifying that the particle data reading process be performed. The

The embodiment of the present invention described above can be realized by a computer executing a program. Further, a means for supplying the program to the computer, for example, a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM recording such a program, or a transmission medium for transmitting such a program may be applied as an embodiment of the present invention. it can. A program product such as a computer-readable recording medium that records the program can also be applied as an embodiment of the present invention. The programs, computer-readable recording media, transmission media, and program products are included in the scope of the present invention.
In addition, the embodiments of the present invention described above are merely examples of implementation in carrying out the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention should not be construed as being limited thereto. Is. That is, the present invention can be implemented in various forms without departing from the technical idea or the main features thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Belt conveyor 2 Switching chute 3 Fixed hopper 4 Upper flow adjustment gate 5 Storage hopper 6 Lower flow adjustment gate 7 Blast furnace main body 8 Turning chute 100 Particle behavior analysis apparatus 101 Analysis form designation part 102 Particle information acquisition part 103 Blast furnace information acquisition part 104 area | region Setting unit 105 Region setting unit 106 Particle behavior analysis unit 107 Particle behavior display unit 301 Particle data storage position 302 Calculation target exclusion position 401 Calculation target position 402 Particle data generation position

Claims (11)

A particle behavior analysis device for analyzing the behavior of a plurality of particles in a facility using a discrete element method,
A predetermined area of the facility is set as a particle data storage position, and a region ahead of the particle data storage position in the traveling direction of the particle is set as a calculation target exclusion position, and the calculation target exclusion position from the particle data storage position First area setting means for setting the area up to as a first exercise area;
A predetermined region of the equipment is set as a calculation target position, and a region on the rear side in the traveling direction of the particle from the calculation target position is set as a particle data generation position, and a region from the particle data generation position to the calculation target position A second region setting means for setting as a second motion region;
Particle behavior analysis means for analyzing the behavior of the plurality of particles using a discrete element method,
The particle behavior analysis means includes
First determination means for determining whether or not the particles have passed the particle data storage position;
When it is determined by the first determination means that the particle has passed the particle data storage position, the position of the particle, the translation speed and the rotation speed, and the identification information of the particle in contact with the particle; Storage means for storing information including the force acting between the particles and the particles in contact with the particles, and information indicating the passage time, as storage information of the particles;
Second determination means for determining whether or not the particles have passed the calculation target exclusion position;
When the particles are in contact with other particles that have not passed through the particle data storage position after passing through the particle data storage position until passing through the calculation object exclusion position, Without calculating the force acting on the particle, the particle is moved as if the particle performs a predetermined motion, and the force acting on the other particle from the particle is calculated. Based on the calculated force First moving means for moving the other particles;
When it is determined by the second determination means that the particle has passed the calculation target exclusion position, an exclusion means for excluding the particle from the analysis target by the discrete element method;
Particle generation means for generating particles at the particle data generation position based on the transit time included in the storage information of the particles after the behavior of all particles in the first movement region is analyzed;
Of the storage information of the particles generated by the particle generation means, the position, translation speed and rotation speed of the particles, identification information of the particles in contact with the particles, and the particles and the particles are in contact A readout means for reading out the force acting between the particles;
Third determining means for determining whether or not the particles have passed through the calculation target position;
When the particle is in contact with another particle that has passed through the calculation target position after passing through the particle data generation position and before passing through the calculation target position, it acts on the particle. The particle is moved based on the storage information of the particle read by the reading means, and the particle is transferred from the particle to the other particle as if the particle performs a predetermined motion without calculating the force A particle behavior analysis apparatus, further comprising: a second moving unit that calculates an acting force and moves the other particles based on the calculated force.   The shortest distance from the particle data generation position to the calculation target position and the shortest distance from the particle data generation position to the calculation target position are lengths that exceed the maximum value of the particle size, The particle behavior analysis apparatus according to claim 1.   The particle generating means is at a position corresponding to the position included in the particle storage information at the particle data generation position at a time interval according to the transit time included in the particle storage information. The particle behavior analyzing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the particles are sequentially generated. The first area setting means, the first determination means, the storage means, the second determination means, the first movement means, and the exclusion means are in a relatively upper process area of the facility. Is executed when the operator instructs to analyze
The second area setting means, the particle generating means, the reading means, the third determining means, and the second moving means may analyze a relatively lower process area of the equipment. The particle behavior analysis apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the particle behavior analysis apparatus is executed when instructed by an operator.   The particle behavior analysis apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined motion is a constant velocity linear motion. A particle behavior analysis method for analyzing the behavior of a plurality of particles in a facility using a discrete element method,
A predetermined area of the facility is set as a particle data storage position, and a region ahead of the particle data storage position in the traveling direction of the particle is set as a calculation target exclusion position, and the calculation target exclusion position from the particle data storage position A first region setting step for setting the region up to the first motion region;
A predetermined region of the equipment is set as a calculation target position, and a region on the rear side in the traveling direction of the particle from the calculation target position is set as a particle data generation position, and a region from the particle data generation position to the calculation target position A second region setting step for setting as a second motion region;
A particle behavior analysis step of analyzing the behavior of the plurality of particles using a discrete element method,
The particle behavior analysis step includes
A first determination step of determining whether the particles have passed the particle data storage position;
When it is determined by the first determination step that the particle has passed the particle data storage position, the position of the particle, the translation speed and the rotation speed, and identification information of the particle in contact with the particle; A storage step of storing information including the force acting between the particles and the particles in contact with the particles and information indicating the passage time as storage information of the particles;
A second determination step of determining whether or not the particles have passed the calculation target exclusion position;
When the particles are in contact with other particles that have not passed through the particle data storage position after passing through the particle data storage position until passing through the calculation object exclusion position, Without calculating the force acting on the particle, the particle is moved as if the particle performs a predetermined motion, and the force acting on the other particle from the particle is calculated. Based on the calculated force A first moving step for moving the other particles;
When it is determined by the second determination step that the particle has passed the calculation target exclusion position, an exclusion step of excluding the particle from the analysis target by the discrete element method;
After the behavior of all particles in the first movement region is analyzed, a particle generation step of generating particles at the particle data generation position based on the transit time included in the storage information of the particles;
Of the storage information of the particles generated by the particle generation step, the position, translation speed and rotation speed of the particles, identification information of the particles in contact with the particles, and the particles and the particles are in contact A readout step of reading out the force acting between the particles;
A third determination step of determining whether or not the particles have passed through the calculation target position;
When the particle is in contact with another particle that has passed through the calculation target position after passing through the particle data generation position and before passing through the calculation target position, it acts on the particle. The particle is moved based on the storage information of the particle read out by the reading step and the particle is transferred from the particle to the other particle as if the particle performs a predetermined motion without calculating the force A particle behavior analysis method, further comprising: a second movement step of calculating an acting force and moving the other particles based on the calculated force.   The shortest distance from the particle data generation position to the calculation target position and the shortest distance from the particle data generation position to the calculation target position are lengths that exceed the maximum value of the particle size, The particle behavior analysis method according to claim 6.   The particle generation step is performed at a time interval corresponding to the transit time included in the storage information of the particle, at the position corresponding to the position included in the storage information of the particle, the particle data generation position. The particle behavior analysis method according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the particles are sequentially generated. The first region setting step, the first determination step, the storage step, the second determination step, the first movement step, and the exclusion step are in a relatively upper region of the facility. Is executed when the operator instructs to analyze
The second region setting step, the particle generation step, the readout step, the third determination step, and the second movement step may be analyzed with respect to a relatively lower step region of the facility. The particle behavior analysis method according to any one of claims 6 to 8, which is executed when instructed by an operator.   The particle behavior analysis method according to claim 6, wherein the predetermined motion is a constant velocity linear motion. A computer program for causing a computer to analyze the behavior of a plurality of particles in a facility using a discrete element method,
A predetermined area of the facility is set as a particle data storage position, and a region ahead of the particle data storage position in the traveling direction of the particle is set as a calculation target exclusion position, and the calculation target exclusion position from the particle data storage position A first region setting step for setting the region up to the first motion region;
A predetermined region of the equipment is set as a calculation target position, and a region on the rear side in the traveling direction of the particle from the calculation target position is set as a particle data generation position, and a region from the particle data generation position to the calculation target position A second region setting step for setting as a second motion region;
Causing a computer to execute a particle behavior analysis step of analyzing the behavior of the plurality of particles using a discrete element method,
The particle behavior analysis step includes
A first determination step of determining whether the particles have passed the particle data storage position;
When it is determined by the first determination step that the particle has passed the particle data storage position, the position of the particle, the translation speed and the rotation speed, and identification information of the particle in contact with the particle; A storage step of storing information including the force acting between the particles and the particles in contact with the particles and information indicating the passage time in a storage medium as storage information of the particles;
A second determination step of determining whether or not the particles have passed the calculation target exclusion position;
When the particles are in contact with other particles that have not passed through the particle data storage position after passing through the particle data storage position until passing through the calculation object exclusion position, Without calculating the force acting on the particle, the particle is moved as if the particle performs a predetermined motion, and the force acting on the other particle from the particle is calculated. Based on the calculated force A first moving step for moving the other particles;
When it is determined by the second determination step that the particle has passed the calculation target exclusion position, an exclusion step of excluding the particle from the analysis target by the discrete element method;
After the behavior of all particles in the first movement region is analyzed, a particle generation step of generating particles at the particle data generation position based on the transit time included in the storage information of the particles;
Of the storage information of the particles generated by the particle generation step, the position, translation speed and rotation speed of the particles, identification information of the particles in contact with the particles, and the particles and the particles are in contact A readout step of reading out the force acting between the particles;
A third determination step of determining whether or not the particles have passed through the calculation target position;
When the particle is in contact with another particle that has passed through the calculation target position after passing through the particle data generation position and before passing through the calculation target position, it acts on the particle. The particle is moved based on the storage information of the particle read out by the reading step and the particle is transferred from the particle to the other particle as if the particle performs a predetermined motion without calculating the force A computer program further comprising: a second moving step of calculating an acting force and moving the other particles based on the calculated force.

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