Improved flexibility in EDEM allows users to customize specifically for their process conditions

Harness the power of EDEM with v2.2.

Edinburgh, Scotland (UK) ­ DEM Solutions, experts in particle simulation solutions, today announces the release of EDEM 2.2, the latest version of the multi-purpose modeling software used to simulate and optimize bulk particle handling and processing operations.

Recent versions of the software have seen the addition of a number of cutting edge features, driven by customer collaboration, to allow users to perform more sophisticated particle simulations. The latest version of EDEM includes a number of enhancements to allow the user to configure exactly the data they require for analysis, improving productivity and ultimately maximizing the time spent solving engineering problems.

Reduced file size = less storage, bigger simulations and faster analysis

EDEM has always provided the ability to rewind simulations and to use the output of one simulation as the start point of another. By saving all EDEM simulation data users did not have to specify in advance which data they wished to analyze. But as EDEM simulations have grown larger, results file sizes have also become very substantial with associated impact on data storage capacity required.

EDEM 2.2 now allows users to combine the facility of saving the full dataset for use as restore points along with a selective save of sub-sets of the results data. Selecting only those sub-sets of the full dataset required for analysis can substantially reduce the file size. This allows a greater number of simulations as well as much larger simulations to be carried out for a given storage capacity. Smaller file size also means less time to extract and visualize simulation data. [Quote from customer ­ why this solves a problem/is of benefit]

Synchronize time in EDEM simulations with external coupled models and field data When saving an EDEM simulation deck users can now reset the elapsed simulation time to zero, or any other value, allowing synchronization of the new EDEM deck with the desired reference start time.

This feature makes it easier to synchronize an EDEM simulation with the reference time when working with pre-defined geometry dynamics, external dynamics coupling or field data linked to an external data source All graphs produced from the results using the new simulation deck will read more easily with axis labels generated from the user specified time. [Quote from customer ­ why this solves a problem/is of benefit]

"Particle Factory" enhanced to include generation of particles based on mass distribution

Users needing to generate a particular mass flow rate of particles, or to fill a volume with a given total mass of particles can now define a Mass Generation Rate, The mass distribution can be non-uniform and the Particle Factory will monitor both the total mass and the match to the desired distribution with the chosen volume. By choosing an appropriate initial particle velocity a user can create the desired mass flow rate. When combined with EDEM's existing virtual geometry capability which allows any shaped volume derived from an imported CAD model to be used as a source of particles, this feature enables users to initialize a wide range of bulk particle flow profiles based on particle mass distribution as well as particle numbers.

This feature will be of great value to designers of Bulk Solids Transfer systems such as Conveyor Transfer Points and allows the specification of initial conditions to more naturally match the operating conditions which are usually defined as mass of particles per unit time. [Quote from customer ­ why this solves a problem/is of benefit]

Analysis can now employ a binning volume of ANY shape for calculation of bulk material behavior

EDEM 2.2 sees the introduction of a new post-processing tool for analysis of results data allowing users to calculate the bulk material characteristics of particles occupying any arbitrary shaped volume. Using the virtual geometry method already pioneered in EDEM for initializing particles, this new post- processing feature extends the method of "binning" particle data using a grid of cubic-shaped bins to non-cubic bins derived from CAD models. These models can be imported from generic or native CAD files or can be geometric primitives created using EDEM's built-in tools.

In addition, the non-cubic bin volumes can be moved through the spatial domain gathering the desired statistics over time. The kinematics of a bin can be linked to that of any piece of physical geometry in the model so enabling calculation of transients such as the rate of fill of a moving digger bucket, or the average velocity of particles exiting a rotating disc such as a fertilizer spreader.

"The new features and capability in EDEM 2.2 support the focus of our customers on fully exploiting the value of particle simulation to deliver engineering solutions", said John Favier, CEO of DEM Solutions. "Flexibility and efficiency in model set-up, simulation and in data analysis is essential to enable users to quickly and easily produce the information they need. As DEM becomes a commonly-used tool in solution of particle problems, engineers are looking for the ease-of-use combined with ability to customize their solution provided by EDEM."