PONE-D-21-12488

Interaction and Influence of a Flow Field and Particleboard Particles in an Airflow Forming Machine with a Coupled Euler-DPM Model

PLOS ONE

Dear Dr. Chen,

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Fang-Bao Tian

Academic Editor

PLOS ONE

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Reviewers' comments:

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Comments to the Author

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Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

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2. Has the statistical analysis been performed appropriately and rigorously?

Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

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Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

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Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

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5. Review Comments to the Author

Please use the space provided to explain your answers to the questions above. You may also include additional comments for the author, including concerns about dual publication, research ethics, or publication ethics. (Please upload your review as an attachment if it exceeds 20,000 characters)

Reviewer #1: In this paper, the CFD method is employed to investigate the flow field and the gas-solid two-phase flow field coupled with particle movement of an airflow forming machine. The research has practical application value. However there exist some expository short comings as follows:

(1) If you write more details into the Figure 2, it would be better for people to understand this paper. Symbols are marked on the Figure 2, but not in the article. Moreover, the units of length in the figure are missing.

(2) In the text, only cursory information is given on the mesh refinement procedure. Why only the mesh of the air inlet and exhaust outlet is densified? Please give the details of the mesh refinement.

(3) Some details need to be added: the specific location of measuring points 1-7 and the size of the feed opening.

(4) In the fluid-soild coupling simulation, why the particle diameter range of shavings is 0.0002m~0.001m? Can the quality and size of shavings affect the difference between the simulation results and the actual situation? Explain it.

(5) What is the relationship between the airflow field in the third section and the particle field in the fourth section?

(6) How do the added shaving particles affect the speed of the characteristic lines on Sections 2 and 3, please explain it.

(7) English writing needs to be polished. For example, in Page 4 Line 10, ‘The establishment of a CFD simulation model…’ should be corrected. In Page 9 Line 19, ‘The convergence criterion chosen for…’ should be corrected.

Reviewer #2: This manuscript mainly investigates the flow field and the gas-solid two-phase flow field coupled with particle movement of an airflow forming machine by the CFD method. The motivation behind the problem investigated in this manuscript is meaningful and innovative, the manuscript has little short comings as detailed in the follows:

(1) The language needs to be improved sufficiently. For example, in Page 2 Line 6, ‘Particleboards are engineered wood produced by chipping and grinding…’ should be corrected. In Page 14 Line 22, ‘The airflow vortex in the middle of the box almost disappears…’ should be corrected.

(2) In the initial model, why the wind speeds of the air inlet and the exhaust outlet are 10.4 m/s and 24.7 m/s? Explain it.

(3) This paper does not elaborate the choice of calculation model, but directly selects the standardmodel. It is suggested to give reasons.

(4) Improve the analysis of the velocity variation of characteristic lines at different sections.

(5) In Section 4, the quality and shape of particles have a great influence on the results in the DPM simulation. Do you consider the quality and shape of shavings?

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Reviewer #1: No

Reviewer #2: No

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Interaction and Influence of a Flow Field and Particleboard Particles in an Airflow Forming Machine with a Coupled Euler-DPM Model

PONE-D-21-12488R1

Dear Dr. Chen,

We’re pleased to inform you that your manuscript has been judged scientifically suitable for publication and will be formally accepted for publication once it meets all outstanding technical requirements.

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Kind regards,

Fang-Bao Tian

Academic Editor

PLOS ONE

Additional Editor Comments (optional):

Reviewers' comments: