Size segregation of spherical nickel pellets in the surface flow of a packed bed: Experiments and Discrete Element Method simulations

The size segregation of binary mixtures of spherical nickel pellets flowing into a packed bed was investigated with Discrete Element Method (DEM) simulations and physical experiments in 30 cm and 60 cm wide rectangular test cells. Each test cell approximates a vertical slice of a cylindrical packed bed, with a rising feed tube on one side of the cell representing the stationary frame of reference in the packed bed. As the feed tube is raised, …