Recent results of experimentation and DEM modeling of centrifugal fertilizer spreading

Abstract

For the past few decades there has been a growing concern about the environmental implications associated with the use of soil fertilizers. In Europe, over 90% of fertilizer is distributed using spinning disc spreaders. The popularity of spinning disc spreaders lies with their relative low cost. However, the performance of these machines is highly dependent on the particle properties (e.g. friction coefficients, shape). This results in large differences in spread patterns depending on the fertilizer type as well as the prevailing weather conditions (e.g. air humidity). This dependence requires extensive experimental calibration of the spreader for each type of fertilizer. When a new spreader is designed this calibration work has to be largely repeated. DEM is believed to be the key to increase the understanding of the spreading process, the design of better spreaders and a drastic reduction of experimental calibration. The paper reviews recent results in experimentation and modelling of an international research consortium running several industrial research projects on centrifugal fertilizer projects.