Circulation of particles in a vibrated bed with an inner tube

The particle motion in a vibrated bed with an inner tube was simulated by the discrete element method (DEM). A height difference is observed in the vibrated particle bed between the interior and annulus of the inner tube. The bed height difference is strongly affected by the ratio of the cross section at the interior to that at the annulus of the inner tube. When the inner tube is immersed in the particle bed, the bed height difference causes the circulation of particles in the bed. The direction and velocity of particle circulation can be controlled by changing the inner tube diameter and the circulation velocity is also controlled with vibration conditions. (c) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.