Optimization of the fluted force-feed seeder meter with the helical roller using the discrete element method and response surface analysis

Date

2023-07-14

Authors

Wang, Jianxiao
Sun, Wei
Simionescu, Petru Aurelian
Ju, Yuanjin

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Abstract

The seed metering process of a fluted force-feed seeder was simulated using the Discrete Element Method and its parameters optimized using the Box–Behnken Design of Experiments and the Response Surface Method. The rotational speed of the feed roller, the lead (helix) angle of the flutes, and the number of flutes were the independent variables, while the response value was the seeding uniformity index. Two regression models were investigated, and the following conclusions drawn. For the flute lead angle between 0 and 10 degrees, and the number of flutes between 10 and 14, it was found that the number of flutes and the lead angle influenced the seeding performance the most, with the order of importance being the (i) number of flutes, (ii) lead angle and (iii) roller speed. For the flute lead angle between 5 and 15 degrees, and the number of flutes between 12 and 16, it was found that the roller speed and the number of flutes influenced the seeding performance the most, with the order of importance being the (i) roller speed, (ii) number of flutes and (iii) flute lead angle. The two regression models were then minimized for the seeding uniformity index and the corresponding optima verified experimentally on a conveyor belt test stand fitted with an image recognition system.

Description

Keywords

wheat seeder, fluted force-feed seeder, discrete element method, response surface analysis, numerical optimization

Sponsorship

This work was supported in part by the Gansu Provincial University Industry Support Plan (2022CYZC-42), the Public Welfare Industry (Agriculture) Scientific Research Project (201503124) and the Modern Silk Road Cold and Drought Agricultural Technology Support Project (GSLK-2022-12).

Rights:

Attribution 4.0 International

Citation

Wang, J., Sun, W., Simionescu, P. A., & Ju, Y. (2023). Optimization of the Fluted Force-Feed Seeder Meter with the Helical Roller Using the Discrete Element Method and Response Surface Analysis. Agriculture, 13(7), 1400. MDPI AG. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13071400