Pneumatic Metering Research Articles

Investigation of Engineering Properties of Black Gram and Horse Gram for the Design of Hopper and Seed Plate of a Pneumatic Planter

Study presents an in-depth evaluation of the engineering properties of Black Gram (Vigna mungo) varieties VBN-6 and ADT-5, and Horse Gram (Macrotyloma uniflorum) varieties KS-2 and Paiyur-2. This is carried out for the design of a pneumatic seed metering unit viz., seed plate and the hopper. Emphasizing the importance of physical and engineering properties, the investigation on moisture content, axial dimensions, gravimetric properties, and key engineering characteristics such as density, porosity and frictional properties provides critical data for optimizing the design and functionality of the pneumatic seed metering unit, including the seed plate and hopper. For black gram, metering plates with 2.1 mm cell diameter were found optimal, whereas horse gram varieties require 3.5 mm diameter with 26 cells. Hopper of 9100 cm3 capacity made of mild steel of 2 mm thickness was developed according to the seed bulk density and flow characteristics. These properties made the pneumatic metering mechanism compatible with pulse seeds and helped to mechanize the pulse sowing.

Development of a Mechanically Assisted Pneumatic Metering Mechanism for High-Speed Planting of Soybean

Development of a Mechanically Assisted Pneumatic Metering Mechanism for High-Speed Planting of Soybean

Simulation of Non-Spherical Rice Seed Motion in Pneumatic Conveying with Bend by CFD-DEM

The rice flow characteristics in pneumatic conveying determined the performance of pneumatic metering device for rice seed. The non-spherical rice seed motion in pneumatic conveying with bend was investigated by CFD-DEM simulation. The rice seed particle model was established by multi-sphere method, and a typical pneumatic conveying horizontal-vertical pipe with bend was selected. The applicability of three drag force models on non-spherical particle was compared. The particle flow characteristics in different pipes including the vertical-horizontal pipe and the horizontal-horizontal pipe were investigated. The non-spherical particle formed a particle rope at the outlet of bend, and the particle rope dispersed at downstream of the vertical pipe. The effect of particle shape on gas-solid flow characteristics was obtained. The gas velocity value in the bend for non-spherical rice particle was higher than that for spherical particle. The non-spherical rice particle rope dispersed more slowly than the spherical particle rope. The particle velocity profile of non-spherical and spherical particles was similar. The differences of the gas-solid flow predicted by Free stream model, Ergun and Wen & Yu model, and De Filice model were limited. The particle rope can also be formed in vertical-horizontal pipe and horizontal-horizontal pipe, but its dispersion represented different features. The results showed that particle shape and structure of pipe can influence the gas-solid flow characteristics, and a suitable particle model was important for the gas-solid flow simulation by CFD-DEM.

УНИВЕРСАЛЬНОЕ РЕСУРСОСБЕРЕГАЮЩЕЕ ДОЗИРУЮЩЕЕ УСТРОЙСТВО ПНЕВМАТИЧЕСКОГО ВЫСЕВАЮЩЕГО АППАРАТА

A new design of a pneumatic sowing device operating at an excess pressure of the air flow is proposed, which allows sowing the seeds of two different crops simultaneously in one row in a combined way, placing them at equal intervals in a row and at different depths, as well as sowing in a dotted way. The new sowing disc of a dosing device is made in the form of a plate and is equipped with two rings rigidly fixed on it with the possibility of removal. The optimum thickness of the disc is 3...4 mm, the width of the ring is 11...12 mm. These parameters are established based on the size of the seeds of the sown crops, affecting the parameters of the conical cells of the rings. The manufacture of a metering disc from a polymeric material reduces the consumption of metal on the metering apparatus as a whole and reduces its mass. The use of a new resource-saving metering device allows high-quality sowing of seeds of two row crops in one area at no additional cost, while minimizing damage to seeds to a minimum. The developed pneumatic metering device with a universal dosing device has a simpler design adapted to production conditions and is convenient in operation

Engineering Properties of Paddy and Wheat Seeds in Context to Design of Pneumatic Metering Devices

Engineering properties play important role while designing of metering devices of the planter/seed drills. Present investigation was conducted to study the change in engineering properties of paddy (Kranti (PV1) and Pusa1121 (PV2)) and wheat (HI1544 (WV1) and Lokwan (WV2)) seeds due to soaking in water for predetermined duration. Geometric mean diameter of PV1, PV2, WV1 and WV2 was ranged between 3.89 and 4.07 mm, 3.87–4.14 mm, 4.03–4.59 mm and 4.18–4.61 mm, correspondingly due to soaking. Sphericity with aspect ratio of PV1, PV2, WV1 and WV2 seeds were varied as 48.43–49.56 with 0.41–0.42, 32.03–32.07 with 0.2, 60.68–64.12 with 0.51–0.58 and 57.29–60.67 with 0.46–0.52, respectively. Thousand seed weight of PV1, PV2, WV1 and WV2 was increased from 27.80 to 34.88 g, 28.64–35.91 g, 45.68–67.6 g and 48.21–71.13 g, respectively. Bulk and true densities of PV1 and PV2 were increased from 626.49 to 661.98 kg/m3 and 1150.83–1322.45 kg/m3 and 540.35–562.15 kg/m3 and 1376.76–1412.58 kg/m3, respectively, for dry to 2 days soaked seeds. Bulk and true densities were 833.06–676.91 kg/m3 and 1388.09–1258.84 kg/m3 for WV1 while 816.18–669.85 kg/m3 and 1647.7–1485.62 kg/m3 for WV2. Porosity of PV1, PV2, WV1 and WV2 was varied from 45.48–49.87%, 60.61–60.17%, 39.91–48.02% and 50.44–56.55%. Angle of repose of PV1, PV2, WV1 and WV2 was ranged as 30.33–38.13ο, 27.78–34.15ο, 29.22–37.97ο and 32.42–38.51ο, respectively. On wooden platform, static coefficient of external friction was varied as 0.56–0.62, 0.45–0.53, 0.38–0.65 and 0.41–0.69 for PV1, PV2, WV1 and WV2 seeds, while on mild steel corresponding values of coefficient were 0.37–0.56, 0.40–0.51, 0.33–0.68 and 0.37–0.75. Coefficient on plastic platform was varied as 0.34–0.41, 0.36–0.41, 0.34–0.67 and 0.29–0.63 for PV1, PV2, WV1 and WV2 in same order. Terminal velocity values for PV1, PV2, WV1 and WV2 were ranged between 6.5 and 8 m/s, 6.2–7.6 m/s, 7.4–9.10 m/s and 7.5–10.1 m/s, respectively. Statistical models with ANOVA and multiple pair wise comparison also determined change of the seeds behaviour for soaking conditions.

Effect of the Sowing Speed on the Distribution Regularity of Maize Seeds

This work aimed to evaluate the influence of the sowing speed on the regularity of longitudinal distribution of maize seeds through a pneumatic metering seeder. The experimentation of 4 sowing speeds (4, 6, 8 and 10 km h-1) was performed in randomized blocks design with four replicates. The parameters evaluated were the mean distance between plants, coefficient of variation of the distance between plants, percentage of acceptable, flawed and double spacings, precision index, plant stand, initial population, mean seed deposition depth, and coefficient of variation of the seed deposition depth. The increase in the operating speed linearly reduced the percentage of acceptable spacings, plant stand, initial population, and mean seed deposition depth. Conversely, it linearly increased the values of mean distance between plants, coefficient of variation of the distance between plants, percentage of double and flawed spacings, precision index, and coefficient of variation of the deposition depth. Therefore, the increase in the displacement speed of the tractor-seeder set reduced the regularity of the longitudinal distribution of the plants, as well as the sowing quality.

Design and Evaluation of a Pneumatic Metering Mechanism for Power Tiller Operated Precision Planter

Power tiller is the most common prime mover in medium and marginal farms due to its light weight, compact design and low cost. Many attachments for power tiller have been developed except for precision pneumatic planter which is necessary to plant irregular, small and expensive seeds. In the present work, a pneumatic seed metering mechanism was designed for the power tiller operated 3-row precision planter. It was tested for planting soybean, pigeon pea and corn seeds at 20 cm spacing. The best design and operating parameters of the modular seed metering device were identified by conducting experiments on the sticky belt test stand considering various performance indices on the basis of pareto dominance criterion. The seed metering disc having 8 holes of 3.5 mm diameter on pitch circle diameter of 116 mm and operated at 0.11 ms –1 peripheral speed and 6 kPa suction were found to be the best combination of design and operating parameters for the precise metering of seeds. More than 67% of the seeds got distributed in the range of 15–20 cm spacing.

DEVELOPMENT AND PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF A NEW PNEUMATIC PRECISION METERING DEVICE FOR PLANTING MEDICINAL AND AROMATIC CROPS

The aim of the present work is to develop a simple and low cost pneumatic metering device to be suitable for planting some medicinal and aromatic seeds (dill and coriander). To fulfill this objective, a developed planter with the pneumatic precision metering device was fabricated and tested in both laboratory and field. The performance of the developed planter was studied under some different operating conditions and compared to the traditional method. Physical and mechanical properties of seeds were investigated to optimize the design of the planters components. The experimental results in laboratory revealed the following: The feeding rate and the application rate of dill and coriander seeds increased with increasing the metering device rotational speed, increasing vacuum tube hole numbers and increasing forward speed. The experimental results in the field revealed the following: The field capacity recorded (0.20 and 0.016 fad./hr.) and (0.29 and 0.025 fad./ hr.) for dill and coriander crops with the developed machine and manual planting respectively. While field efficiency recorded (95.25 and 95.35%) for dill and coriander crops with the developed planter. At longitudinal direction; the maximum values of coefficient of variation recorded (34.67 and 27.73%) for dill and coriander crops with manual planting, while the minimum values recorded (11.75 and 5.97%) for dill and coriander crops with the developed planter. The highest values of seed yield recorded (0.317 and 0.975 Mg/fad.) with the developed planter and manual planting for dill and coriander crops, respectively. The minimum values of consumed energy were (14.21 and 19.99 kW.hr./fad.) for coriander crop with manual planting and the developed planter. While the maximum values were (22.2 and 28.98 kW.hr./fad.) for dill crop under the same conditions. The lowest cost per unit of production it recorded (24.88 and 73.62 LE/fad.) for dill crop with the developed planter and manual planting, respectively. While with coriander crop it recorded (149.43 and 356.36 LE/fad.) under the same conditions.

The role of field dust in pesticide drift when pesticide-treated maize seeds are planted with vacuum-type planters.

Neonicotinoid-contaminated dust escaping pneumatic seeders causes exposure to non-target organisms such as pollinators. Two sources of dust have been reported: abrasion by talc which is added as seed lubricant during planting, and seed-to-seed abrasion occurring during seed handling, distribution and planting. We report a third important source that warrants remediation. Here, soil dust stirred up by planters was found to enter the vacuum air intake near seed metering devices. The mean quantity of dust collected from the exhaust of a commercial pneumatic planter over a number of field sites and situations was 46 g ha-1 , ranging from 5.8 to 184.2 g ha-1 . While the clothianidin concentration in exhaust dust declined with increasing quantity of dust, total clothianidin recovered increased linearly within the study parameters. Up to 2.4 g ha-1 of clothianidin was recovered from planter exhaust, representing approximately 12.6% of the active ingredient applied to seed. A similar pattern occurred in the laboratory on a single standing planter unit using diatomaceous earth as surrogate field dust. Field dust in pneumatic metering systems contributes significantly to clothianidin contamination in planter exhaust by seed abrasion. Adding diatomaceous earth as surrogate field dust to the Heubach seed dust protocol accounted for field dust abrasion and distinguished anti-abrasive properties of seed treatments. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.

Nonlinear mathematical modeling of seed spacing uniformity of a pneumatic planter using genetic programming and image processing

The purpose of this research was to represent the new laboratory test procedure that could be applicable in the field condition. Therefore, the performance of a pneumatic planter was investigated under laboratory conditions for maize, castor, fababean, sorghum, sugar beet, watermelon and cucumber seeds. The effect of operational speed [(1) 2.5–4 km/h and (2) 6–8.5 km/h] and vacuum pressure was evaluated by examining the quality of feed index, precision in spacing (coefficient of variation), miss index and multiple index. The most perfect operating parameter values for maize, castor, sorghum and sugar beet seeds were obtained at the first level of operating speed and 4.0 kPa pressure; for watermelon seed: second level of speed and 4.5 kPa pressure; and for cucumber seed: first level of speed and 4.5 kPa pressure. Furthermore, in order to determine the relationship between most important operating parameters affecting the performance of the pneumatic metering device and seed physical properties, regression models were developed using genetic programming (GP) algorithm. According to the results, the developed model using GP encompasses all physical properties of seeds as well as operational parameters. The model strongly describes the effect of investigated factors on seed spacing uniformity with values of the coefficient of determination R2 of 0.938, RMSE of 3.01 and MAE of 3.362087. Furthermore, the associated P value of 2.9851e−17 represents that the model is statistically significant. Model obtained from GP approach not only has a higher value of the coefficient of determination compared to regression model but is able to present the relationship between two operating parameters affecting the performance of row crop pneumatic metering device and seed physical properties, as well.

Velocidade periférica do disco em mecanismos dosadores de sementes de milho e soja

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito da velocidade periférica do disco dosador de sementes em mecanismos dosadores pneumáticos e de disco alveolado horizontal, com as culturas do milho e soja, em ensaio de laboratório. Os tratamentos foram compostos por quatro velocidades periféricas (0,09, 0,18, 0,28 e 0,38m s-1) em combinação com quatro mecanismos dosadores (dois pneumáticos de pressão negativa e dois de disco alveolado horizontal) em delineamento blocos ao acaso com três repetições. Os mecanismos foram comparados por teste de médias e, para as velocidades periféricas, traçaram-se equações de regressão. Foram avaliados os percentuais de espaçamentos aceitáveis, múltiplos e falhos entre sementes por meio do espaçamento teórico nominal resultante de cada tratamento. O percentual de espaçamentos aceitáveis reduziu de maneira linear com o aumento da velocidade periférica do disco para ambas as culturas. Para a cultura do milho, os mecanismos dosadores pneumáticos apresentaram resultados superiores aos de disco alveolado nas velocidades periféricas mais elevadas. Para a cultura da soja, os dosadores pneumáticos apresentaram melhor desempenho na média dos tratamentos. De maneira geral, quanto menor a velocidade periférica do disco, melhor a regularidade de distribuição de sementes de milho e soja.

Vacuum Nozzle Design for Seed Metering

ABSTRACT SEVEN vacuum nozzles were evaluated in a stationary device similar to horticultural seedflat seeders to learn correct seed orientation, air pressure for pickup, holding and transport, brush-off method, and seed ejection. Theoretical derivations and experiments showed that the pressure difference needed for pickup of a seed increased with the fourth power of the pickup height for heights of more than one seed radius. An exponential relationship was found to apply closer to the nozzle. Recommendations for a suitable pneumatic metering device for nearly spherical seeds were made with regard to nozzle type, seed lift height, seed orientation, brush-off device, and seed ejection