With the depletion of traditional energy resources, the share of heavy-oil production has been increasing recently. According to some estimates, their reserves account for 80% of the world's oil resources. Costs for extraction of heavy oil and natural bitumen are 3-4 times higher than the costs of extracting light oil, which is due not only to higher density and viscosity indicators but also to insufficient development of equipment and technologies for the extraction, transportation, and processing of such oils. Currently, a single pipeline system is used to pump both light and heavy oil. Therefore, it is necessary to take into account the features of the heavy-oil pumping mode. This paper presents mathematical models of heavy-oil flow in oil-field pipelines. The rheological properties of several heavy-oil samples were determined by experiments. The dependencies obtained were used as input data for a simulation model using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) methods. The modeling condition investigates the range of shear rates up to 300 s−1. At the same time, results up to 30 s−1 are considered in the developed computational models. The methodology of the research is, thus, based on a CFD approach with experimental confirmation of the results obtained. The proposed rheological flow model for heavy oil reflects the dynamics of the internal structural transformation during petroleum transportation. The validity of the model is confirmed by a comparison between the theoretical and the obtained experimental results. The results of the conducted research can be considered during the selection of heavy-oil treatment techniques for its efficient transportation.

The research is dedicated to the development of special devices (capsules) that can be used to control the mining ore behavior in the technological unit in order to increase processes efficiency. In the first part of the article, the choice of the discrete element method for gen-erating various particle trajectories in the unit (drum pelletizer) was substantiated. This part describes the specific technologies that were used to recognize the pelletizing mode. In par-ticular, conversation of paths to sensor readings is implemented using the Matlab Sensor Fusion and Tracking Toolbox. The obtained readings were processed using two neural network classifiers (DNN and LSTM). As a result, stable models for recognizing the pelletizing modes of the unit were obtained. LSTM recognition accuracy is greater than DNN. The developed approach can be used to recognize the operating modes of other technological units. In addition, data on particles trajectories can be used to improve DEM models of technological processes. Future work consists of the capsule physical implementation and testing the recognition algorithm on a real unit.

A lot of researchers are developing new DEM parameters calibration approaches based on an experiment plan or the use of learning algorithms. This research is aimed at improving iterative algorithms frequently used for calibration. The big time consumption as a main problem of iterative algorithms is questioned. It is proposed to use Random forest algorithm to determine DEM parameters impact on the measured bulk responses. Measured responses are the parameters obtained by image processing using a technical vision system. As a result of 200 experiments processing, DEM parameters impact values on each bulk response were generated and presented as histograms. Obtained results were interpreted on the basis of the bulk material behavior and its physical properties. There is a discussion on the possibility of developing a universal DEM parameters calibration method based on the iterative algorithm.