Application of a screw conveyor with axial tilt blades on a shearer drum and investigation of conveying performance based on DEM

Abstract Screw conveyors are widely employed in industrial fields for conveying bulk materials. The shearer drum which uses the screw conveying principle is responsible for excavation and conveying coal particles onto the chain conveyor. Screw conveyor performance is affected by potential factors, such as the blade axial tilt angle and style, core shaft form and diameter. The effect of blade axial tilt angle on the conveying performance was investigated with the help of DEM. In the case of the screw conveyor, the mass flow rate, and particle axial velocity increased with increasing positive axial tilt angle, and declined with increasing negative axial tilt angle. In the case of the drum, the mass flow rate, particle axial velocity, and loading rate first increased and then decreased with increasing positive axial tilt angle, and decreased with increasing negative axial tilt angle. These results can be considered as a benchmark for screw conveyor and drum structural designs with axial tilt screw blades.