Structural Design of Pressurized Tube Based on the Discrete Element Method–Computational Fluid Dynamics Coupled Simulation

Abstract

In order to elucidate the impact of pressurized tubes’ structures on the sowing performance of pneumatic seed delivery systems, the EDEM–CFD coupled simulation method was employed to analyze the influence of pressurized tube parameters, including length (L), corrugation depth (S), corrugation width (K), and the number of corrugations, on seed movement characteristics, distribution uniformity, and airflow patterns. Simulation-validated experiments were conducted to study the impact of the optimal pressurized tube structure on seeding performance. The results indicate that pressurized tubes significantly enhance the uniformity coefficient of seed distribution, reduce seed velocity, and decrease the coefficient of variation in distribution uniformity. When pressurized tube parameters, specifically length (L), corrugation depth (S), corrugation width (K), and the number of corrugations, are set at 800 mm, 8 mm, 50 mm, and 6, respectively, the uniformity coefficient of seed distribution exceeds 95%, and the coefficient of variation in seed discharge consistency for each row is less than 3.2%. Moreover, the seed velocity at the outlet of the pressurized tube, the relative velocity of two-phase flow, and pressure loss are all minimal, indicating superior seeding performance. This research provides valuable insights into the analysis of seed movement characteristics within pressurized tubes and the optimization of their structural parameters.