Surrogate Modelling of Processes for Granular Material Thermal Treatment

Present advanced technologies creates increasingly complex engineering systems and the complexity of their engineering analysis advance at the same rate. In addition, the design and operation of complex engineering systems involves the integration of multiple disciplines and the resolution of conflicting objectives. Traditional parametric approach is inadequate to analyze these large-scale systems because of its computational inefficiency. Approximation techniques may be applied to build computationally inexpensive surrogate models for large-scale systems to replace expensive-to-run computer analysis codes. Numbers of approaches are existing. Response surface models are frequently utilized to construct surrogate approximations; however, they may be inefficient for systems having with a large number of variables. An alternative approach based on conceptual modelling for creating surrogate models is presented. A unified model for thermal processes is developed to compute thermal treatment of granular materials. The model does not require measurements but they can be useful for the model adjustment on specific situations or on its validation. A Databased modelling approach is used in order to keep at a minimum all the a priori assumptions on the physical mechanism driving the process formations. The motivation is to reduce computational expanse associated with use of simulation models needed to find good solutions. The model has been applied to replace of computationally expensive computer analyses.