Research on the Cluster Hole Effect and Performance Testing of Air-Suction Quinoa Seed Metering Device

Xuan Zhao, Rongrong Liu, Fei Liu (), Hongbin Bai and Wenxue Dong
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Xuan Zhao: College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, No. 306, Zhaowuda Road, Saihan District, Hohhot 010018, China
Rongrong Liu: College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, No. 306, Zhaowuda Road, Saihan District, Hohhot 010018, China
Fei Liu: College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, No. 306, Zhaowuda Road, Saihan District, Hohhot 010018, China
Hongbin Bai: College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, No. 306, Zhaowuda Road, Saihan District, Hohhot 010018, China
Wenxue Dong: College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, No. 306, Zhaowuda Road, Saihan District, Hohhot 010018, China

Agriculture, 2024, vol. 14, issue 8, 1-22

Abstract: Quinoa and other small-seeded crops possess relatively diminutive seed diameters, rendering them highly susceptible to the influence of airflow. The seeding process is impacted by the Cluster Hole Effect, where seeds are unintentionally drawn into areas between the suction holes. This leads to multiple seeds being picked up at once, making it difficult to meet the precise seeding requirements for quinoa. To delve deeper into the mechanism of the cluster hole effects, this study focused on quinoa seeds as the primary research subject. This study analyzes the migration conditions of seed population suction and establishes an equation for seed suction considering the cluster hole effect. CFD methods were employed to analyze the impact of various vacuum chamber negative pressures, suction hole spacing, and suction hole quantities on the suction flow field. By combining simulation results with evaluation criteria such as the qualification rate of seeds per hole, the qualification rate of hole spacing, empty hole rate, and hole spacing coefficient of variation, single-factor experiments and Box–Behnken response surface experiments were conducted to analyze the effects of different factors and their interactions, ultimately determining an optimal parameter combination. The results indicate that with five suction holes, spaced at D11, a vacuum pressure of 1.2 kPa, and a rotation speed of 15 rpm, the seeding performance is optimal. The qualification rate of seeds per hole reaches 98.67%, the qualification rate of hole spacing is 96%, and the hole spacing coefficient of variation is 5.24%, meeting agricultural requirements.

Keywords: small-seeded crops; air-suction seed metering device; CFD; cluster hole effect; quinoa (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
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