Design and Test of Discrete Element-Based Separation Roller Potato–Soil Separation Device

Xinwu Du (), Jin Liu, Yueyun Zhao, Chenglin Zhang, Xiaoxuan Zhang and Yanshuai Wang
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Xinwu Du: College of Agricultural Equipment Engineering, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471003, China
Jin Liu: College of Agricultural Equipment Engineering, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471003, China
Yueyun Zhao: Longmen Laboratory, Luoyang 471000, China
Chenglin Zhang: College of Agricultural Equipment Engineering, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471003, China
Xiaoxuan Zhang: College of Agricultural Equipment Engineering, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471003, China
Yanshuai Wang: College of Agricultural Equipment Engineering, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471003, China

Agriculture, 2024, vol. 14, issue 7, 1-19

Abstract: To address the problems of low bright rates and high rates of potato injuries, a left and right-hand rotation combination of potato–soil separation devices was developed. Its overall structure and working principle were introduced. A Texture Analyzer and pressure sensor were used to measure the force threshold of different varieties of potatoes. A discrete element model of separation rollers and potatoes was established. The collision characteristics of potatoes were analyzed using the device inclination angle, rotational speed, and the center distance of the separation rollers as test factors. A field trial was carried out to optimize the best combination of factors by taking the rate of injured potatoes, bright potatoes, and skin-breaking rate as the test indexes. The force threshold for skin-breaking injury in potatoes was found to be 190–195 N. When the inclination angle of the device was 6°, the rotation speed of the separation roller was 100 r/min, and the distance between the centers of the separation rollers was 79 mm. The rate of injury was 1.25%, the rate of bright potatoes was 99.01%, and the rate of skin-breaking was 1.58%. When the inclination angle of the device was 8°, the rotational speed of the separating roller was 80 r/min, and the center distance of the separating roller was 79 mm, the rate of injured potato was 1.43%, the rate of bright potato was 98.64%, and the rate of broken skin was 1.77%. This paper offers an optimized reference for the effectual removal of sticky soil.

Keywords: agricultural machinery; potato–soil separation; separation rollers; EDEM; loss rate (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 references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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