Open Access

ARTICLE

Optimizing Bucket Elevator Performance through a Blend of Discrete Element Method, Response Surface Methodology, and Firefly Algorithm Approaches

Pirapat Arunyanart, Nithitorn Kongkaew, Supattarachai Sudsawat^*

Department of Materials Handling and Logistics Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok, Bangkok, 10800, Thailand

* Corresponding Author: Supattarachai Sudsawat. Email:

Computers, Materials & Continua 2024, 80(2), 3379-3403. https://doi.org/10.32604/cmc.2024.054337

Received 25 May 2024; Accepted 24 July 2024; Issue published 15 August 2024

Abstract

This research introduces a novel approach to enhancing bucket elevator design and operation through the integration of discrete element method (DEM) simulation, design of experiments (DOE), and metaheuristic optimization algorithms. Specifically, the study employs the firefly algorithm (FA), a metaheuristic optimization technique, to optimize bucket elevator parameters for maximizing transport mass and mass flow rate discharge of granular materials under specified working conditions. The experimental methodology involves several key steps: screening experiments to identify significant factors affecting bucket elevator operation, central composite design (CCD) experiments to further explore these factors, and response surface methodology (RSM) to create predictive models for transport mass and mass flow rate discharge. The FA algorithm is then applied to optimize these models, and the results are validated through simulation and empirical experiments. The study validates the optimized parameters through simulation and empirical experiments, comparing results with DEM simulation. The outcomes demonstrate the effectiveness of the FA algorithm in identifying optimal bucket parameters, showcasing less than 10% and 15% deviation for transport mass and mass flow rate discharge, respectively, between predicted and actual values. Overall, this research provides insights into the critical factors influencing bucket elevator operation and offers a systematic methodology for optimizing bucket parameters, contributing to more efficient material handling in various industrial applications.

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