Construction for intermediate separation of ground grain in combined fodder production

Abstract

The article provides research on a conical gravity separator with wedge-shaped separating channels expanding in the processed material's direction. Separation of the crushed grain material occurs due to the influence of the gravitational field and does not require additional energy consumption for the process itself. Energy is required to lift the processed material to a particular technological height. The use of wedge-shaped calibrating channels in the separator eliminates expensive frames, crank mechanisms, bearing assemblies and shafts, suspension, and drive mechanisms as in sieve mills. This circumstance reduces the cost and, at times, the metal consumption of the structure, the overall dimensions in comparison with other separating devices used for such an operation. The study of the proposed separator is based on several samples made with different angles of the cone Q, degrees, and dimensions of the wedge-shaped channel: initial width a-2; 2.5; 3mm; the final width is b-3; 4; 5 mm, the length of all channels is L-200 mm. The quality of the grinding products of the processed and finished fractions was evaluated by the coefficient of variation of the fractional composition Ɣ. During the research, the specific extraction of the through-feed fraction, the modulus of grinding of the initial product, the qualitative composition of the initial and finished product was determined by the coefficient of variation of the fractional composition Ɣ. Based on the results of the research, experimental dependencies were built, which made it possible to identify the following technological and design parameters of the separator: the optimal modulus of grinding of the processed raw materials, the load, the angle of the cone, at which the value of the specific recovery of the passage with constant dimensions of the wedge-shaped channel is of most significant importance. Studies have shown the high technical performance of the proposed separator: the specific extraction of finished fractions is up to 3000 kg/m2h at a taper angle Q = 54° ÷ 52° and a grinding module of the initial fraction M = 1.3 mm. The separator works stably at high loads P > 4 t / h. The coefficient of variation of the finished fraction is reduced to 12%, which increases its quality compared to the original. The obtained results of experimental studies confirm the feasibility of using the proposed gravity separator in collective and private farms and the industrial production of compound feed.