Experimental and Numerical Study of Pneumatic Transport of Canola Seeds in an Air Seeder
Date
2024-07-17
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
ORCID
0009-0003-9826-4900
Type
Thesis
Degree Level
Masters
Abstract
The significant expansion of canola production in recent years has made Canada one of the largest producers in the world. Achieving uniform seed distribution ensures consistent germination and promotes subsequent crop growth and development. Large-scale agricultural operations predominantly use air seeders, that use pneumatic conveying to distribute seeds through a pipe network . The design of an efficient pneumatic conveying system depends on accurate pressure drop calculations and uniform seed distribution. Despite its importance, there is limited research on how these systems transport canola seeds into the soil, highlighting a gap in understanding the particle behavior and opportunities for improving efficiency.
This study combines experimental investigations with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to examine the underlying physics of canola particle transport within an air seeder system. The research places special emphasis on seed distribution and the impact of geometric parameters on it. The experimental analysis involved modifying specific geometric parameters within the system for different bulk velocities and evaluating the corresponding seed distributions at the outlet of the distribution tower. The computational analysis used the Eulerian-Lagrangian approach, with the Eulerian component implemented through the FLUENT software and the Lagrangian component using the discrete element method (DEM). The simulations considered a representative flow section of an air seeder to predict the dynamics of the gas particle flow. The predicted pressure drop was compared to empirical correlations and experimental data.
The findings demonstrate that the magnitude of the bulk velocity influences the variation in seed distribution. Additionally, the geometry of the system, particularly the complex design of the air seeder including the distribution tower, results in an asymmetric seed distribution. The CFD-DEM simulations established a foundation for future studies, particularly for dilute flow scenarios like canola transport in air seeders.
Description
Keywords
Eulerian-Lagrangian, Computational Fluid Dynamics, CFD-DEM, Multiphase flow, Turbulence, Pneumatic conveying
Citation
Degree
Master of Science (M.Sc.)
Department
Mechanical Engineering
Program
Mechanical Engineering