Numerical study of the dynamic behaviour of iron ore particles during wet granulation process using discrete element method

Iron ore granulation process is simulated by the discrete element method to understand the dynamic behaviour of iron ore particles. The results show that the macroscopic particle flow transits from rolling regime to cascading regime after water addition, with the angle of repose of particles increasing and the level of particle size segregation decreasing. The moisture distribution becomes more uniform through particle tumbling, which improves the granule growth. The microdynamic behaviours of the fines, intermediates and nuclei during the auto-layering process have been studied respectively. The variations in the average contact number, kinetic and rotational energy per particle with granulation time are analysed. The optimal moisture contents for Ores N, M and Y are estimated as 6.46 wt%, 9.12 wt% and 8.70 wt%, respectively. The numerical results are generally in accordance with the corresponding experimental ones, which basically validates the DEM modelling of iron ore granulation presented in this paper.