Design and Optimization of the Vertical Plate Metering Device for Alfalfa Seeds Precision Based on Engineering Discrete Element Method (EDEM)

Abstract

The research is financed by China Agriculture Research System (CARS34)

Abstract

The vertical plate seed metering device enhancement and constraints mass flow rate when added to the device improve mass flow performance of alfalfa vertical plate device. Alfalfa forage crop is a potential feeding nutrient and the backbone of dairy production success in China. Engineering discrete element method EDEM was adopted for simulation computing and analysis of the seed-filling performance of the vertical plate metering device with three cell shapes under desired rotational speeds. The results showed significant differences at P< 0.05 of seed filing performance in relation to the rotational speed and cell shapes. Triangular cell shape had indicated the lower mass flow at 8x10^-5 kg/s compared to the V-shape of 12x10^-4 kg/s and U-shape of 8x10^-3 kg/s, 20 to 30% reduction, respectively. The rotational velocity of the vertical plate exceeded 30rpm the cell units reach the optimum seed filling efficiency resulted in 30% decrease of the mass flow rate, the results indicated more seeds disturbance, reduces seed filling by enhancing seeds accessibility and falling, from cells. Furthermore, the T-shape had a lower seed filling and higher seeds releasing in comparison to the V-shape and U-shape cells. The lower seed filling found to be the higher filling efficiency while the higher seed filling leads to the lower filling efficiency.

Keywords: Alfalfa seed model, cell, filling performance, mass flow, simulation EDEM