Intelligent Operation Parameters Optimization for Screw Conveyor Based on PSO

Particle swarm optimization (PSO) is a population based stochastic optimization technique. As a result, PSO algorithm is widely used in mechanical engineering design field. Screw conveyors are used extensively in agriculture and processing industries for elevating and/or transporting bulk materials over short to medium distances. They are very effective for conveying dry particulate solids, giving good control over the throughput. Despite their apparent simplicity, the transportation action is very complex and designers have tended to rely heavily on empirical performance data. Intelligent operation parameters optimization for screw conveyor based on PSO is studied in this paper. This thesis takes a heavy driving drum of screw conveyor as an example, firstly, the optimization function is built up, then the operation parameter of screw conveyor is precision optimized with PSO algorithm, which offer a foundation to design more reasonable structure for driving drum in order to meet the application demands.