Increasing the efficiency of the granulation process of crushed wood based on CAE simulation technologies

The article examines the technology of crushed wood pelletizing from the perspective of computer simulation modeling. The process of fine raw material movement inside the pelletizer during pressing was studied to identify particle motion characteristics. The widespread use of specialized software based on the Discrete Element Method (DEM) for solving practical industrial tasks related to bulk materials was revealed. A functional digital simulation model of the pelletizing process was developed in Altair EDEM software, describing raw material movement while accounting for the characteristics of individual particles. The interaction dynamics between wood pellets, the pelletizer matrix, and press roller were investigated. The simulation's practical relevance stems from the ongoing need for pelletizing technology optimization. The results may be applied to improve wood waste pelletization processes. © The Authors, published by EDP Sciences.