Comparison between two different mesh descriptions used for simulation of sieving processes

Particle screening is an essential technology in many industrial fields. Related studies are often based on numerical simulations. This paper presents two different approaches for the mesh description used in the simulation of a particle screening process. The particular problem of interest is the separation of round shape particles of different sizes using a tumbling vertical cylinder while the particulate material is continuously fed into its interior. The first mesh model considers a probabilistic approach while the second model deals with the mesh in a very detailed way and considers the contact with individual wires that build up the mesh. The first model has the advantage that it is much simpler. In an attempt to better understand the mechanism of the particle transport between the different layers of the screening system, computational studies for different mesh probability factors have been performed. The results show that the two models have the same trend of results, but no complete agreement is achieved. Although the second model is much more sophisticated and computationally more expensive, the agreement between the two models can be improved by adjusting the probability factor in the first model.