Mechanism Analysis and Establishment of a Prediction Model for the Total Pressure Loss in the Multi-Branch Pipeline System of the Pneumatic Seeder

Wei Qin, Cheng Qian, Yuwu Li, Daoqing Yan, Zhuorong Fan, Minghua Zhang, Ying Zang () and Zaiman Wang
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Wei Qin: College of Engineering, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
Cheng Qian: College of Engineering, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
Yuwu Li: College of Engineering, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
Daoqing Yan: College of Engineering, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
Zhuorong Fan: College of Engineering, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
Minghua Zhang: College of Engineering, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
Ying Zang: College of Engineering, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
Zaiman Wang: College of Engineering, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 15, 1-31

Abstract: This study aims to clarify the nonlinear pressure loss patterns of the pneumatic system in a pneumatic seeder under varying pipeline structures and airflow parameters, and to develop a rapid prediction equation for the main pipe’s pressure loss. The studied multi-branch pipeline system consists of a main pipe, a header, and ten branch pipes. The main pipe is vertically installed at the center of the header in a straight-line configuration. The ten branch pipes are symmetrically and evenly spaced along the axial direction of the header, distributed on both sides of the main pipe. The outlet directions of the branch pipes are arranged in a 180° orientation opposite to the inlet direction of the main pipe, forming a symmetric multi-branch configuration. Firstly, this study investigated the flow characteristics within the multi-branch pipeline of the pneumatic system and elaborated on the mechanism of flow division in the pipeline. The key geometric factors affecting airflow were identified. Secondly, from a microscopic perspective, CFD simulations were employed to analyze the fundamental causes of pressure loss in the multi-branch pipeline system. Finally, from a macroscopic perspective, a dimensional analysis method was used to establish an empirical equation describing the relationship between the pressure loss ( P ) and several influencing factors, including the air density ( ρ ), air’s dynamic viscosity ( μ ), closed-end length of the header (Δ l ), branch pipe 1’s flow rate ( Q ), main pipe’s inner diameter ( D ), header’s inner diameter ( γ ), branch pipe’s inner diameter ( d ), and the spacing of the branch pipe ( δ ). The results of the bench tests indicate that when 0.0018 m 3 ·s −1 ≤ Q ≤ 0.0045 m 3 ·s −1 , 0.0272 m < d ≤ 0.036 m, 0.225 m < δ ≤ 0.26 m, 0.057 m ≤ γ ≤ 0.0814 m, and 0.0426 m ≤ D ≤ 0.0536 m, the prediction accuracy of the empirical equation can be controlled within 10%. Therefore, the equation provides a reference for the structural design and optimization of pneumatic seeders’ multi-branch pipelines.

Keywords: pneumatic seeding system; multi-branch pipeline; pressure loss prediction; CFD simulation; dimensional analysis (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: 2025
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