Numerical simulation and experiment of grain motion in the conveying system of ratooning rice harvesting machine

Authors

  • Weijian Liu 1. College of Engineering, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; 2. Key Laboratory of Key Technology on Agricultural Machine and Equipment, Ministry of Education, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
  • Xiwen Luo 1. College of Engineering, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; 2. Key Laboratory of Key Technology on Agricultural Machine and Equipment, Ministry of Education, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
  • Shan Zeng 1. College of Engineering, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; 2. Key Laboratory of Key Technology on Agricultural Machine and Equipment, Ministry of Education, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
  • Ying Zang 1. College of Engineering, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; 2. Key Laboratory of Key Technology on Agricultural Machine and Equipment, Ministry of Education, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
  • Zhiqiang Wen 1. College of Engineering, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; 2. Key Laboratory of Key Technology on Agricultural Machine and Equipment, Ministry of Education, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
  • Li Zeng 1. College of Engineering, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; 2. Key Laboratory of Key Technology on Agricultural Machine and Equipment, Ministry of Education, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
  • Wei Gu Thinker Agricultural Machinery Co., Ltd, Huzhou 313017, Zhejiang, China

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25165/ijabe.v15i4.6681

Keywords:

ratooning rice, screw conveyor, grain motion, harvesting machine, CFD-DEM

Abstract

The mixtures, grains, and residues in the ratooning rice harvesting machine need to be conveyed forward, backward, upward, and downward. Due to such operations, often accumulation and blockage take place at the intersection of a horizontal-vertical screw conveyor, resulting in low efficiency, high power consumption, and even grain damage. In this study, a CFD-DEM approach was applied to address the above problems. Firstly, a pneumatic conveying device was designed for ratooning rice, and then the motion of the rice grains and airflow field was analyzed in detail. The effects of different cross-sectional heights and lengths of the contraction section related to the mixing cavity were examined. Finally, the three-factor quadratic regression orthogonal rotational combination method was adopted in the experiment, and the fan velocity, filling coefficient, and speed of the horizontal screw conveyor were taken as test factors. The results showed that with the increasing cross-sectional height of the contraction section in the mixing cavity, the grain velocity decreased and the dispersity increased. With increasing length of the contraction section in the mixing cavity, the area of the high-speed airflow zone increased and the diffusion effect was enhanced. At the fan velocity of 2700 r/min, the filling coefficient was 0.41, the speed of the horizontal screw conveyor was 1173 r/min, and the outlet flow optimization index was the highest, which was 45.9% higher than that obtained without airflow. Keywords: ratooning rice, screw conveyor, grain motion, harvesting machine, CFD-DEM DOI: 10.25165/j.ijabe.20221504.6681 Citation: Liu W J, Luo X W, Zeng S, Zang Y, Wen Z Q, Zeng L, et al. Numerical simulation and experiment of grain motion in the conveying system of ratooning rice harvesting machine. Int J Agric & Biol Eng, 2022; 15(4): 103–115.

Author Biographies

Weijian Liu, 1. College of Engineering, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; 2. Key Laboratory of Key Technology on Agricultural Machine and Equipment, Ministry of Education, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China

PhD candidate

Xiwen Luo, 1. College of Engineering, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; 2. Key Laboratory of Key Technology on Agricultural Machine and Equipment, Ministry of Education, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China

Professor

Shan Zeng, 1. College of Engineering, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; 2. Key Laboratory of Key Technology on Agricultural Machine and Equipment, Ministry of Education, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China

Associate Professor

Ying Zang, 1. College of Engineering, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; 2. Key Laboratory of Key Technology on Agricultural Machine and Equipment, Ministry of Education, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China

Professor

Zhiqiang Wen, 1. College of Engineering, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; 2. Key Laboratory of Key Technology on Agricultural Machine and Equipment, Ministry of Education, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China

Graduate student

Li Zeng, 1. College of Engineering, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; 2. Key Laboratory of Key Technology on Agricultural Machine and Equipment, Ministry of Education, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China

Graduate student

Wei Gu, Thinker Agricultural Machinery Co., Ltd, Huzhou 313017, Zhejiang, China

senior engineer

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Published

2022-09-04

How to Cite

Liu, W., Luo, X., Zeng, S., Zang, Y., Wen, Z., Zeng, L., & Gu, W. (2022). Numerical simulation and experiment of grain motion in the conveying system of ratooning rice harvesting machine. International Journal of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, 15(4), 103–115. https://doi.org/10.25165/ijabe.v15i4.6681

Issue

Section

Power and Machinery Systems