Parameter Optimization of a Conveying and Separating Device Based on a Five-Stage Screw and Vibrating Screen for Tiger Nut Harvesters

Jiangtao Qi, Jianping Gao, Shan Chen, Wenhui Chen, Luoyi Yang, Hewei Meng () and Za Kan ()
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Jiangtao Qi: College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832000, China
Jianping Gao: College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832000, China
Shan Chen: College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832000, China
Wenhui Chen: College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832000, China
Luoyi Yang: College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832000, China
Hewei Meng: College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832000, China
Za Kan: Engineering Research Center for Production Mechanization of Oasis Special Economic Crop, Ministry of Education, Shihezi 832000, China

Agriculture, 2024, vol. 14, issue 5, 1-25

Abstract: To tackle problems such as the difficult separation from sand and the high power consumption of tiger nut harvesting in the sandy areas of Xinjiang, a conveying and separating device for tiger nut harvesters was designed. The axial and radial migrations of materials under screw action and the separation process of materials under vibratory action were analyzed dynamically. A simulation analysis was carried out on the conveying and separating process based on EDEM software. The migration trajectories of tiger nuts and sand particles were extracted, the displacement variations of sand particles on the X -axis, Y -axis, and Z -axis were analyzed in the action area of the screen-cleaning spike teeth and the screw action area, respectively, and the conveying and separation law of the tiger nut harvest mixture was clarified. With key parameters such as the screw velocity ratio, amplitude, vibration frequency, and machine operation velocity as test factors, and with the sand removal rate, crushing rate, and power consumption as test evaluation indicators, a four-factor, five-level orthogonal central composite test design was implemented. The test results were analyzed via the regression variance analysis method, and relation models between variable factors and evaluation indicators were constructed. The test results show that under the combined conditions of a screw velocity ratio of 0.88, an amplitude of 4.7 mm, a vibration frequency of 7.5 Hz, and a machine operation velocity of 0.92 km/h, the sand removal rate is 90.40%, the crushing rate is 1.66%, and the power consumption is 2.24 kW in theory. The optimized results were verified by tests. The sand removal rate was 88.92%, the crushing rate was 1.71%, the total power consumption was 2.29 kW, and the errors from the predicted values were 1.6%, 3.0%, and 2.2%, respectively, meeting the requirements for tiger nut harvesting conveyance and separation. This research can provide support for the development of technology and equipment for mechanized harvesting of tiger nuts in the sandy areas of Xinjiang.

Keywords: tiger nut; harvest; conveying and separating; parameter optimization (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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