Key Structure Design and Experiment of Air-Suction Vegetable Seed-Metering Device

Jian Xu,Ting Tang,Chongyang Han,Junwei Hou,Shunli Sun,Weibin Wu,Xiaoming Wang

doi:10.3390/agronomy12030675

Jian Xu, Ting Tang + Show 5 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12030675

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Abstract

The air-suction precision seed-metering device is prone to the instability of the seed adsorption state, which arises from blockage of the suction hole and leads to uneven seeding. This paper analyzed and determined key structural parameters of the seed-metering plate, then established an adsorption mechanics model of the seed during the migration process and designed the key structure of the air-suction seed-metering device with the aim of improving the uniformity of high-speed direct seeding of vegetables. Furthermore, we used the DEM-CFD coupling method to analyze the influence of the law of seeds on the change of the flow field with different hole types. Results showed that the turbulent kinetic energy (202.65 m2∙s−2) and the coupling force to the seeds (0.029 N) of the B-type hole are the largest, which is the best fluid domain structure for the suction hole of the seed-metering plate. Moreover, we used Adams to analyze the meshing process between the knock-out wheel and the seed-metering plate, affirming the rationality of the knock-out wheel design. Finally, in order to improve the working efficiency of the seed-metering device, we performed one-factor and response surface experiments of seeding performance using the air-suction seed-metering device designed with the optimized structure as the experimental object. Analysis of the influence of weights across each factor on the experimental performance evaluation indicators revealed an optimal combination of seeding performance parameters in the air-suction seed-metering device, namely a seed-throwing angle of 13°, a working speed of 14.5 km/h, and negative pressure of 3.1 kPa. Results from verification experiments revealed the corresponding experimental indicators, namely qualified, multiple, and missing indexes of 95.9, 1.2%, and 2.9%, respectively.

Highlights

Maleki et al designed a compound screw device based on the internal structure of the mechanical seed-metering device, which ameliorated the irregular phenomenon caused by fluctuation of the seed stream and blockage of holes and enhanced the seeding uniformity of mechanical seeders [6]
Assessment of the turbulent kinetic energy of the suction hole axis line allowed for further analysis of the variation of turbulent kinetic energy inside the suction holes with different structures
Since the kinetic energy between the sub-particles is transferred through the cohesive bond, it can be deduced that the adsorption effect of the seeds in the B-type suction hole was the best under the same boundary conditions

Summary

Introduction

Precision seeding technology, which takes into account the seeding rate, seed spacing, and seeding depth as the core control objectives, is the main mode of modern standardized operation of vegetables. During the large-scale precision planting of vegetables, the suction holes of the seed-metering device in the planter are prone to clogging, a phenomenon that causes an issue with uneven seed flow. This subsequently causes severe damage to the good growth environment of seeds and restricts vigorous promotion and application of precision seeding technology. To solve these problems, researchers have attempted to optimize the design of precision seeding-metering devices [4,5]. The development of the mechanical seed-metering device is still constrained by technical bottlenecks

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Conclusion