Structural Optimization and Performance Evaluation of Blocking Wheel-Type Screw Fertilizer Distributor

Abstract

In order to solve the problem where the amount of screw fertilizer distributor can only be adjusted by rotating speed and poor fertilization uniformity at low rotational speeds, a blocking wheel-type screw fertilizer distributor was designed. Single factor and L9(34) orthogonal simulation tests based on EDEM software were carried out to optimize the distributor variables at a speed of 20 r/min. The bench verification test was built under the same conditions as the simulation tests to verify the results of the simulation. Finally, the bench performance tests were carried out to evaluate distributor performance. The results of simulation tests revealed that the minimum coefficient of variation of fertilization uniformity (CVFU) was 19.27%, with the structural parameter combination of the inner diameter (17 mm), pitch (45 mm), outlet distance (40 mm), and number of screw heads (1). The verification test results showed that the changing trend and values of the CVFU were almost the same as the simulation tests. The results of the performance test revealed that when the opening width of the blocking wheel was 10–30 mm and the rotation speed was 20–60 r/min, the amount of fertilizer per lap (FAPL) was in the range of 27.74–38.15 g/r; the maximum CVFU and the coefficient of variation of fertilization stability (CVFS) were 29.43% and 2.18%, respectively, which met the requirements of the industry standard. This research provides a good reference for optimizing the screw fertilizer distribution and for researchers in the field of precision fertilization.

Applications of Discrete Element Method in the Research of Agricultural Machinery: A Review

“…In DEM, it is convenient to record the trajectory of fertilizer particles in the meter process, determine the spatial distribution position, distribution evenness index, etc. W the obtained data, a set of factor influencing the movement of fertilizer particles and tilizer metering performance can be analyzed, such as the feeding rate, feeding angle a feeding position angle's effect on the distribution in lateral distance of a fertilizer sprea with centrifugal swing disk [176] (Figure 10a); the effect of the inner diameter of the scr blade, screw pitch, outlet distance, number of screw heads, and the blocking wheel op ing width on the coefficient of variation of fertilization stability [177]. The CFD-DEM coupling method, which models airflow with CFD and models crop seeds with DEM, could monitor not only the airflow velocity and distribution in the metering device and metering tube, but also the movement of seeds in the airflow, so as to analyze: the effect of the structure of a pressurized tube on seed motion, and airflow in the tube of an air-assisted centralized metering device for rapeseed and wheat (Figure 9) [72,172]; the effect of the structure of three different metering discs of inside-filling air-blowing seed metering device on the drag force of the seed in a large circular shape [173]; the effect of the diameter and length of metering tube on airflow and motion of seed flow [174]; the seed filling performance in the adsorption, removing, and separation stages of a pneumatic seed metering service, with guided assistant filling [175], providing references for the design and optimization of air-assisted metering devices.…”

“…In DEM, it is convenient to record the trajectory of fertilizer particles in the metering process, determine the spatial distribution position, distribution evenness index, etc. With the obtained data, a set of factor influencing the movement of fertilizer particles and fertilizer metering performance can be analyzed, such as the feeding rate, feeding angle and feeding position angle's effect on the distribution in lateral distance of a fertilizer spreader with centrifugal swing disk [176] (Figure 10a); the effect of the inner diameter of the screw blade, screw pitch, outlet distance, number of screw heads, and the blocking wheel opening width on the coefficient of variation of fertilization stability [177].…”

Design and Experiment of the Buckwheat Hill-Drop Planter Hole Forming Device

“…S =B (Q +S ) (22) Incorporating Equation (22) into Equation ( 21), the recursive algorithm equation of Q* can be obtained as shown in Equation ( 23):…”

“…In summary, this study is based on the requirements of buckwheat hill-drop seeding, and a duckbill hole forming device which has an important influence on the sowing accuracy and operation efficiency of a buckwheat hill-drop seeding machine was designed. Through co-simulation analysis of discrete element software EDEM (DEM-Solutions, Edinburgh, United Kingdom) [21][22][23] and multibody dynamics software RecurDyn (Func-tionBay, Inc., Seongnam-si, South Korea) [24,25], the relevant mechanical data of duckbill's parts during the hill-drop planter operation were obtained. The duckbill spring is selected through theoretical analysis and numerical calculation, and the relevant parameters of the duckbill spring are obtained.…”

Study on the Distribution Pattern of Threshed Mixture by Drum-Shape Bar-Tooth Longitudinal Axial Flow Threshing and Separating Device

“…The analysis and calculation of the contact model directly determine the magnitude of the force and moment on the particle. In this paper, the Hertz-Mindlin non-sliding contact model was used to analyze the contact between the material and threshing device [23][24][25]. The contact stiffness of this model varied with the contact overlap of particles, and it was a nonlinear model.…”