Particle Engineering | DEM Consulting & Simulation Set-Up

SimuTech Group provides a complete range of DEM (Discrete Element Modeling) consulting services for bulk particle modeling and interactions using best-in-class Rocky DEM software technology.

Our team of world class engineers work directly with Rocky DEM developers and support personnel to insure timely and high-fidelity analysis results on a fixed-cost or time and materials basis.

Particle analysis engineering, which involves analyzing for optimal particle size, size distribution, morphology and surface characteristics, has gained increasing relevance in the industries of pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, agronomics, milling, metals/mining, and manufacturing.

DEM Particle Analysis applications may include:

Modeling hair or other foreign objects as flexible fiber in a vacuum system
Optimization of food coating (or seasoning) in an industrial drum roller
Mixing multiple materials or particles for QA/QC validation
Material crushing or sorting in an industrial heavy equipment system
Surface wear analysis for industrial drums, fins, blades, or other components etc.

Particle Engineering | FAQs

Answer: If you are considering making a significant business investment in particle analysis, such as a CPA (Computer Particle Analyzer), it is important your business recognizes both the machine costs and supplemental expenses.

Computer Particle Analyzer

When acquiring a CPA package, for example, your business can expect to pay a minimum of $60,000. In addition, there will likely be additional expenses if your business requires an industrial unit or particular customizations.

Two Solutions:

Contingent on your company’s needs, there are two alternatives to outright purchasing of industrial CPA units.

1. Ongoing Needs – Invest in a Software Program

If you have ongoing needs in the PA field, a cheaper alternative to a direct process would be a Particle Dynamics Simulation Software, such as Rocky.

This technology employs discrete element method (DEM) software, which is used for simulating the motion of granular and discontinuous material. In addition, Rocky is uniquely capable in modeling real particle shapes including any solids, 2D shells, and rigid and flexible fibers.

2. Project-based (Ad-Hoc) Needs – Particle Consulting

If you do not have ongoing needs in the PA field, therefore, not requiring long-term software of CPA units, hiring a Photonics or Particle Analysis Consulting expert is likely the cheapest option for your industry. Since the company (like SimuTech Group) already possesses the necessary software and equipment in-house, along with the engineering expertise necessary for the corresponding analysis’, we are confident that this route will, in fact, be the most cost effective option for your business.

This answer, of course, differs by industry and application. However, generally speaking, the typical techniques to actuate particle size distribution are static laser light scattering (SLS, also known as ‘laser diffraction”), dynamic image analysis (DIA), dynamic light scattering (DLS), sieve analysis, and discrete element modeling (DEM).

Particle size analysis (PSA) is employed to characterize the size distribution of particles in a particular sample isolated by an engineer or technician.

In terms of application, particle size analysis can be utilized for solid materials, digital imaging, aerosols emulsions, suspensions, laser diffractions and more.

Correlation does not mean Causation

Additionally, It is crucial for businesses to select the most suitable computational method for different samples as divergent or conflicting methods can produce significantly different results for the same material. In short, drawing conclusions or correlation from faulty data could be catastrophic for a business.

Ultimately, this is why analysis’ used for the purpose of altering a core business process/model should be conducted by a particle engineering expert.

Particle size analysis is a crucial test in particle engineering, and is deployed for quality control across various industries and sub-industries.

In nearly every functional industry in which grind or milling or grinding is ongoing, particle size becomes a core factor in determining the efficiency of manufacturing processes, functional and structural integrity, and overall performance and adoption of the actual product.

Industries and product segments in which particle sizing is employed, often requiring particle analysis consulting expertise, includes: