Discrete Particle Simulation of Gas-Solid Flow in Air-Blowing Seed Metering Device

In this paper,the gas and seed flow characters in the air-blowing seed metering device are investigated by using the coupled computational fluid dynamics and discrete element method(CFD-DEM)in three dimensions(3D).The method of establishing boundary model based on the computer-aided design(CAD)drawing,has been used to build the boundary model of seed metering device.The 3D laser scanning technique and multi-element method are adopted to establish the particle model.Through a combined numerical and experimental effort,using 3D CFD-DEM software,which is based on the in-house codes,the mechanisms governing the gas and solid dynamic behaviors in the seed metering device have been studied.The gas velocity field and the effect of different rotational speeds and air pressures on the seeding performance and particle velocity have been studied,similar agreements between numerical and experimental results are gained.This reveals that the 3D CFD-DEM model established is able to predict the performance of the air-blowing seed metering device.It can be used to design and optimize the air-blowing seed metering device and other similar agriculture devices.

Design and experiment of the pneumatic double disc precision seed metering device for Chinese flowering cabbage

Single seed metering devices for Chinese flowering cabbage planting machines have suffered such deficiencies as low efficiency,poor accuracy,and instability.To overcome these limitations,a pneumatic double disc precision seed metering device was designed.This innovative device can simultaneously plant four rows,considering the specific agricultural requirements and the geometric characteristics for Chinese flowering cabbage seeds.The precise parameters of the key component seed disc were derived through theoretical calculation.In addition,a detailed account was given for the working principle and workflow of the seed metering device.The discrete element method and EDEM software were employed to optimize the seed disc by exploring the effects of seed disc rotational speed and interleaving seed slots on seed viability.Orthogonal rotation experiments were conducted to evaluate the impact of seed disc rotational speed and negative pressure.While rates of qualified seeding,double seeding and missing seeding were adopted as test indicators.Testing results show that,at a seed disc rotational speed of 41.5 r/min and a negative pressure of 3.80 kPa,the average qualified seeding rate is 90.13%,the average missing seeding rate is 3.30%,and the average double seeding rate is 6.02%.These values satisfy the agricultural requirements for planting Chinese flowering cabbage.The findings can also provide valuable insights for the structural optimization and design of precision seed metering devices for Chinese flowering cabbage.

Design and experiment of an air-suction potato seed metering device

An air-suction potato seed metering device was designed to improve the performance of the large-size seed crops planting equipment and provide a solution for problems on the mechanical potato seeder,such as high multiple-seeding index,high missing-seeding index,low qualified index,and limited versatility.The main structure and operation parameters in terms of rotating speed of the device,seeds height and pickup vacuum pressure were determined by theoretical analysis.Two orthogonal tests,conventional tuber(the triaxial average diameter is about 38-57 mm)test and mini-tuber(the triaxial average diameter is about 12-36 mm)test,were conducted to analyze the influences of these factors on the quality of seeding.The multiple-seeding index,missing-seeding index and qualified index were chosen for evaluating the working performance.The results of conventional tuber test showed that,the multiple-seeding index was 1.1%,the missing-seeding index was 0.8%and the qualified index was 98.1%under conditions of the 30 r/min rotating speed,25 cm seeds height and 10 kPa pickup vacuum pressure.The results of mini-tuber test showed that the multiple-seeding index was 0.5%,the missing-seeding index was 0.6%and the qualified index was 98.9%under conditions of 35 r/min rotating speed,17 cm seeds height and 3.5 kPa pickup vacuum.The working performances of the device can meet the requirements of precision seeding.

气吸双行错置式玉米密植精量排种器设计与试验

针对大豆-玉米复合密植播种模式下传统气吸式排种器单行种盘高转速作业导致充种时间短、气流稳定性差,难以实现高速精量密植播种的问题,设计了一种气吸双行错置式玉米密植精量排种器,阐述了排种器结构与工作原理,对其工作过程及关键部件进行理论分析,构建充种和投种环节的种子力学模型,确定排种盘内外环型孔排布、投种轮、气室等关键结构参数,并开展单、双气道内负压分布、型孔内气流场特性分析,基于DEM-CFD耦合方法对排种器的排种过程进行仿真分析,以作业速度、气室结构和负压为试验因素,充种合格指数、重充指数和漏充指数为评价指标,优选出最优气室结构。通过台架试验开展不同气吸式排种器排种性能对比试验。试验结果表明,在作业速度为5~10 km/h的高速密植工况下,气吸双行错置式密植精量排种器排种合格指数均大于88.7%,且作业速度为10 km/h时,相较于常用单圆环气吸式排种器合格指数提高5.5个百分点,漏播指数降低5.6个百分点;田间试验结果表明,在作业速度为5 km/h下,播种合格指数为95.7%,重播指数为1.6%,漏播指数为2.8%。提出的气吸双行错置式玉米密植精量排种器在高速作业时拥有良好的排种性能,能够满足大豆-玉米高速精量密植播种要求。

气吸式杂交稻单粒排种器研制

针对气力式水稻精量排种器充种不稳定、单粒播种精度不高和播种量大的问题,该研究设计了一种具有矩形吸种孔和辅助充种装置的气吸式杂交稻单粒排种器。根据“吉田优”型杂交稻的长短轴重力分布情况,确定排种盘吸种孔形状;基于CFD-DEM(Computational fluid dynamics,Discrete element method)流固耦合理论,以吸附力为指标,进行5类具有相同面积的吸种孔单因素仿真试验,确定吸附力最大的吸种孔规格为0.8 mm×2.25 mm;以该型吸种孔为基础,选取辅助充种角、工作转速和工作负压为试验因素,以单粒率S、多粒率M和漏播率L为试验指标,开展Box-Bhnken台架试验,对试验结果进行响应曲面分析和多目标优化,得到排种盘辅助充种角为80.90°、工作转速为42.65 r/min、工作负压为621 Pa时,排种器的单粒率为86.91%,漏播率为3.63%。验证试验结果的排种器单粒率为86.36%、漏播率为3.41%,与优化结果吻合。研究结果可为后续气吸式杂交稻单粒排种器的优化设计和直播机整机作业精度的提高提供指导。

辣椒机械式自动精量排种器设计与试验

辣椒漂浮育苗具有占地面积小、育苗周期短和椒苗品质好的优点,播种环节要求一穴一粒精量播种,通常采用人工点播,存在劳动强度大和播种效率低的问题。针对以上问题,该研究以磁力回位型排种器为基础,设计了一种适于辣椒漂浮育苗的机械式自动精量排种器,并对关键机构进行设计,通过单因素试验获得曲柄直径、曲柄电机工作转速和种量的较优区间,以单粒合格指数、重播指数和漏播指数为指标进行三因素三水平正交试验,建立回归模型,并进行参数优化。试验结果表明,在排种器旋转倾角30°、旋转电机角速度0.07 rad/s(即生产率240盘/h),曲柄直径为30 mm、曲柄电机转速为230 r/min、种量为4千粒时,排种器的播种效果较好,单粒合格指数为91.04%,重播指数为5.21%,漏播指数为3.75%,相比于人工操作磁力回位型排种器,单粒合格指数提升了5.81个百分点,重播指数降低了6.45个百分点,满足辣椒漂浮育苗的播种要求,可为辣椒育苗轻简化生产和小籽粒种子的机械式精量排种器研究提供参考。

勺轮式蚕豆排种器设计与排种性能研究

为提升蚕豆机械化播种率,提出一种结构简单的勺轮式蚕豆排种器,分析不同排种转速与种子类型对排种性能的影响。首先,介绍勺轮式排种器结构与工作原理,统计分析蚕豆种子外形尺寸并划分为三类(小粒、中粒、大粒),设计蚕豆种子排种勺结构,理论分析排种器取种过程、清种过程与传种过程;然后,利用EDEM软件仿真排种器工作性能,建立排种器与三类蚕豆种子的仿真模型;最后,以合格指数、重播指数、漏播指数为排种性能评价标准,开展台架试验,验证勺轮式蚕豆排种器的可行性。结果表明:仿真环境下,排种器内蚕豆种子实际充种线的水平倾角与排种转速呈正相关。排种器适宜排种转速为10 r/min,中粒种子排种性能指标最优,其播种合格指数为90.3%,重播指数为6.9%,漏播指数为2.8%。当排种转速为10 r/min时,仿真试验的综合排种性能为:合格指数89.5%,重播指数6.25%,漏播指数4.25%;台架试验的综合排种性能为:合格指数89.2%、重播指数7.1%、漏播指数3.7%,与仿真试验结果基本一致,满足蚕豆播种要求,验证勺轮式蚕豆排种器的可行性。

南瓜种子姿态约束定向组合式排种器设计与试验

为实现南瓜种子定向播种,提出先调整南瓜种子运动姿态再进行定向的组合式定向方法,设计了一种南瓜种子组合式定向排种器。该定向装置的关键部件包括限位清种板和导向板两部分。基于南瓜种子几何特性确定了限位清种板的结构参数。建立南瓜种子定向过程的运动学方程,明确了南瓜种子定向过程中姿态变化与导向板结构参数的关系,确定了导向板结构参数。利用CFD-DEM耦合法,验证了南瓜种子组合式排种器定向排种的可行性,确定了排种盘转速取值范围。搭建试验台,以平躺吸附率为试验指标,通过单因素试验确定了排种盘型孔直径。以单粒率为试验指标,通过单因素试验确定了负压和排种盘型孔数取值范围。选取负压、排种盘型孔数、排种盘转速为试验因素,以单粒率、定向成功率为试验指标,进行了三因素三水平二次中心组合试验,得出影响排种器单粒率的主次因素为负压、排种盘型孔数、排种盘转速,影响排种器定向成功率的主次因素为排种盘转速、负压、排种盘型孔数。对优化后参数进行田间验证试验,结果表明,当排种盘型孔数为16、负压为10kPa、排种盘转速为4r/min时,单粒率为94.7%,定向成功率为82.7%,南瓜种子落入穴盘的正负偏转角度为18.5°。

正负压气吸式精量排种器设计与试验

为了更好地适配非圆小籽粒种子的播种,解决机械式排种器易伤种,对种子尺寸适应性差的问题,设计了1种正负压气吸式精量排种器。根据农艺要求对排种器整体进行了设计;同时以小麦为研究对象,通过单因素试验,分析了吸种负压、排种器转速以及投种高度3个因素对排种器性能的影响;通过响应面试验,得到了较优的参数组合:吸种负压为-3.5 kPa,排种器转速为19 r/min,投种高度为180 mm;对最优参数下精量排种器进行台架试验,结果表明,合格率为80.62%,重播率为9.22%,漏播率为10.16%。符合JB/T—10293—2013《单粒(精密)播种机技术条件》的要求。

4种机械式油莎豆排种器的对比试验与分析

针对油莎豆种皮凹凸不平导致摩擦力较大、充种效果较差,在充种过程中极易堵种等问题,基于油莎豆种子物理特性,对目前我国广泛应用的机械式排种器(内充种式、指夹式、勺轮式和窝眼轮式)对油莎豆的试播进行台架试验与分析。以合格指数、漏播指数、破碎指数为评价指标,进行了单因素试验,对油莎豆的充种、携种及排种等状态重点观测分析,探究油莎豆漏播、重播及碎种等情况发生的原因。研究结果表明:随前进速度的提高,内充式排种器在充种区极易造成卡种现象;指夹式排种器在充种过程中漏播的问题较为突出;勺轮式排种器种子破碎的问题较为严重,从而对后续播种的合格率构成较大影响;窝眼轮式排种器在实际试验中种子脱离排种口时速度较大,在传送带上造成碰撞,导致油莎豆的均匀性变异系数较大。

油菜高速机械离心式集排器设计与试验

针对传统油菜机械离心式集排器高速作业时供种及投种能力不足,导致排种量与作业速度不匹配、排种性能不稳定等问题,设计了一种被动式供种、“圆孔+渐变孔柱”组合式型孔投种的油菜高速机械离心式集排器。构建了供种、投种过程中的力学模型,分析确定了影响排种性能的关键结构参数;利用EDEM离散元仿真开展了供种调节高度对供种速率调节量影响的试验,结果表明当供种调节高度为3~8 mm时,供种速率在64.95~357.54 g/min范围内可调;采用两因素三水平正交试验分析了限种套筒下摆高度及倾角对初始种量、临界转速及环状种层最大高度的影响。通过台架试验确定了较优限种套筒结构参数,结合高速摄影对比了5种型孔结构下动锥体转速与排种量关系,确定最优型孔结构为“圆孔+渐变孔柱”组合式型孔。较优参数组合集排器排种性能验证试验结果表明:当转速为115~205 r/min时,排种速率为60.96~355.76 g/min,油菜各行排量一致性变异系数均低于5.2%,总排量稳定性变异系数均低于1.3%,破损率低于0.5%,满足作业速度6~12 km/h时的排种量要求。田间试验结果表明,当机组作业速度为7.89、11.98 km/h时,油菜各行植株均匀性变异系数低于11%,种植密度为43~58株/m^(2),满足油菜精量播种要求。

正负气压组合滚轮式油菜精密排种器设计与试验

针对油菜种子粒径小、质量轻,单粒排种难度较大的问题,设计了一种正负气压组合滚轮式精密排种器。阐明了排种器工作原理,开展排种器吸种、携种和卸种环节受力分析和排种滚轮对种群拖带过程解析;提出了通过控制充种区种层高度和种群压力的防拖带堆积机理,设计了一种侧向充种、拖带种子自由回落的充种室结构,利用离散元仿真研究了充种种层高度和充种室结构对排种器充种区内充种性能的影响及对种群拖带堆积的解决情况;仿真结果表明,排种器内种子随着充种种层高度的增大,种群平均动能均值逐渐增大,对种群平均扰动能力逐渐增强;在充种种层高度50 mm条件下,设计的防拖带堆积充种室降低了充种区域底部种群所受的压力,未出现种群拖带堆积现象,且保持了对充种区域种群的扰动作用。在JPS-12型排种器检测试验台上进行了排种器性能试验,结果表明,当排种转速为15~30 r/min、吸种负压为1.0~1.2 kPa时,排种器合格指数均保持在90%以上;设计装配正负气压组合滚轮式精密排种器的播种机开展播种试验,田间实测出苗后株距稳定性变异系数为4.4%,各行苗数一致性变异系数为8.14%;研究结果表明设计的排种器满足精密播种要求。

玉米免耕播种机振动特性及对排种器排种性能的影响

为研究玉米免耕播种机振动特性以及振动对排种器漏播指数和重播指数的影响,搭建一套由振动加速度传感器、电荷放大器、USB采集卡组成的播种作业振动测试系统,在玉米免耕播种机免耕地表作业时进行振动测试采集播种作业的振动信号。因田间工作环境复杂,使用经典滤波法中的IIR滤波器滤除所采集振动信号中其他高频干扰信号,对田间采集振动信号进行时域分析,均方值作为时域分析指标值。结果表明:振动加速度均方根随着作业速度和旋耕机转速的增加呈线性增加,旋耕机转速和作业速度是引起玉米免耕播种机振动的主要因素,影响顺序为:旋耕机转速>作业速度。使用二次积分法对田间采集信号进行分析,得出播种机作业时最大振动位移为16.004mm,对振动信号进行频域分析,使用直接法求出功率谱密度。结果表明:玉米免耕播种机振动频率主要在0~100Hz之间,频率分布与旋耕机转速影响较大。根据田间振动信号所得工作参数搭建振动试验台,以播种机振动频率、振动幅值、作业速度为试验因素,合格指数、漏播指数为评价指标进行3因素3水平响应面试验。结果表明:作业速度、振动幅值和振动频率对合格指数和漏播指数影响较为显著。各因素对合格指数影响顺序为:振动幅值、作业速度、振动频率;各因素对漏播指数影响顺序为:振动幅值、振动频率、作业速度。研究结果可为降低玉米免耕播种机振动和优化指夹式排种器提供理论参考。

Design and indoor simulated experiment of pneumatic rice seed metering device

In order to meet the agronomy demand for hybrid rice direct seeding,a novel precise pneumatic rice seed metering device was designed with groups of sucking holes plate,by which 3-4 seeds could be synchronously sucked and synchronously dropped into the paddy field.The plate was divided into five sections:seed sucking,seed clearing,seed carrying,seed dropping,and blank sections.The seeds were sucked in sucking section by the vacuum,carried and rotated to the dropping section with the plate,blown away in dropping section by the positive pressure air,and thrown into the dropping tube.The influences of the hole diameter,vacuum degree,and clear-up equipment on precision of metering device were discussed.Experiments were conducted to investigate the seeding precision and simulate the field emergence rates on the indoor seeding test-bed.The subjects were pregnant Indic hybrid Peizataifeng under two kinds of moisture content(23.43%and 26.07%).Other experiment conditions included the vacuum degree of 2.60 kPa,the rotation speed of seed sucking plate of 30 r/min,three sucking holes with a diameter of 1.6 mm,and the seed layer thickness of 25 mm.The seeding results showed that,in condition of no more than two seeds per hill,the emergence probabilities under the two moisture contents were 11.82%and 11.95%,respectively,and in condition of 3-4 seeds per hill,the results were 64.81%and 65.84%,respectively.With 2-5 seeds per hill,the results were 92.08%and 92.60%,respectively.If the emergence probability was 80%,under the two moisture contents,the no seed per hill probabilities were 1.33%and 0.80%respectively;the probabilities with 3-4 seeds per hill were 56.13%and 56.40%respectively;the probabilities with 5 or more seeds per hill were 10.67%and 10.13%respectively;the probabilities with 2-5 seeds per hill were 87.60%and 88.13%respectively.The results showed the simulated experiment was an efficient and economic method to assess the capability of pneumatic rice seed drilling metering device,and the precise pneumatic rice seed drilling metering device had a good prospect in practical application.

Design and key parameter optimization of an agitated soybean seed metering device with horizontal seed filling

Since the low seed filling speed of mechanical seed metering devices reduces the low qualified rate of seed spacing during high-speed practices,it is significant to design agitated seed metering devices with horizontal seed filling that are suitable for high-speed practices.The combination of horizontal seed filling and agitated seed filling can accelerate the seed filling of mechanical seed metering devices,and improve the qualified rate of seed spacing during high-speed practices.In this study,theoretical analysis,discrete element method-based simulation and indoor bench test verification were conducted to investigate how key parameters of the agitated seed metering device with horizontal seed filling(angles,installation position and number of agitating plates,diameters of convex spoons)would affect the characteristics of soybean seed movement,seed number and seeding performance(qualified index,multiple index,missing seeding index)under different working speeds.Computer-based simulation,test design and regression analysis were combined to analyze the population moving rules and optimize the design parameters of seed metering devices.Based on the test scheme as designed,simulations were conducted on Fluent EDEM,and the optimal angle of the agitating plates was determined by analyzing the population migrating rules.Regression equations were established through the regression of test results,and used to find out the optimal design parameters(diameter of convex spoon,positions and number of agitating plates)of seed metering devices.Then the optimal parameter combination among different working conditions was determined that the angle,position and number of agitating plates were 30°,24.4 mm,and 13,respectively,and the diameter of convex spoon was 11.0 mm.With the optimal parameter combination and at the seeding speed of 12 km/h,the qualified index,multiple index and missing seeding index were 93.1%,2.1%and 4.8%,respectively.Under high-speed practices,the new seed metering device was not significantly different from the pneumatic seed metering device,but significantly outperformed the mechanical seed metering device.

Optimization design and experiment on ripple surface type pickup finger of precision maize seed metering device

A ripple surface type pickup finger was designed to improve the performance of pickup finger precision maize seed metering device and to provide a solution for precision maize planter.The main structure and working principle of seed metering device were detailed in this paper.The dimension size distributions of maize seeds in different types were studied,the gestures of seeds clamped by pickup finger were analyzed,and the clamping dynamical model of pickup finger was established by theoretical analysis.To optimize the structural parameters of ripple surface type pickup finger,the discrete element method(DEM)model of pickup finger precision maize seed metering device was established by the discrete element software EDEM.The numerical simulations of orthogonal seeding performance experiments were conducted to analyze the influences of these factors on the quality of seeding.The rotational speed,wavelength of ripple surface and amplitude of ripple surface were selected as the experimental factors.The average seeding qualified index and the average seeding coefficient of variation on four different types of maize seeds were chosen for evaluating the seeding performance.The results showed that,the average seeding qualified index was 93.35%and the average seeding coefficient of variation was 11.23%under conditions of the 25 r/min rotational speed,8 mm wavelength of ripple surface and 2 mm amplitude of ripple surface.Under the same condition,the bench test was done which showed that the results of test and simulation were consistent.The maximum error of qualified index was 1.95%and the qualified index of improved seed metering device exceeded the original one by 12.34%.The working performance can meet the requirements of precision maize seeding.

Design of an active seed throwing and cleaning unit for pneumatic rice seed metering device

To address the clogging of the rice seed metering device after a long period of operation without affecting the precision of normal seeding,an active seed throwing and cleaning unit was designed based on the fact that magnets of the same pole were mutually exclusive.The working principle of the two devices was analysed theoretically,and a mechanical model was created according to the relationship between the repulsion forces of magnets and the spring forces of springs.The super hybrid rice Y-2 You 900 with 22.5%moisture content(wet basis)was used as the test object.The whole factor experiments were carried out under different negative pressures,rotational speeds of the suction plates,and lengths of probes.The results indicated that under any test conditions,the active seed throwing and cleaning unit worked normally.The results of high-speed photography showed that the rate of seed cleaning was 100%.The results also showed that the optimal negative pressure was 0.8 kPa.The probability of 1-3 seeds per hill for the seed metering device was approximately 95%under the optimal negative pressure.The optimal length of the probe was found to be 2 mm.The average qualified rate of hill space was 96.04%under the optimal length of probe,the longer the length of the probe,the lower the qualified rate of hill space.It also showed that an active seed throwing and cleaning unit could effectively avoid the hole clogging caused by the long-term operation and had no influence on the normal operation of the pneumatic rice seed metering device.The active seed throwing and cleaning unit improved the stability of the seed metering device,and the research provided a reference for the optimal design of seed throwing and cleaning structures of the pneumatic rice seed metering device.

Seeding performance of air-assisted centralized seed-metering device for rapeseed

In order to analyze seed movement characteristics and improve seeding quality of air-assisted centralized metering device for rapeseed,the effects of the model-hole structure on seed feeding performance were investigated using EDEM simulation.Furthermore,the CFD-DEM coupling approach was applied to determine movement trajectories and airflow fields.The impacts of rapeseed varieties and rotational speed on seeding performance were investigated by bench tests.The results showed that the seed feeding quantity increased with the increase of model-hole’s length,depth and section size.Under the model-hole’s depth of 3.0 mm,the type II model-hole and model-hole’s length of 10 mm,both the variation coefficient of seed feeding quantity and hill diameter were lower which meet the seeding quantity requirement of 2 seeds in each hill.It was revealed that the seed population migrated in a large airflow velocity area and the distribution was uniform.The bench tests indicated that rapeseed varieties and rotational speed had a significant effect on the seed feeding quantity in each hill at rotational speed of 10-40 r/min.The variation coefficient of seed feeding quantity in each hill was less than 17.0%for each treatment.The hill diameter,which did not exceed 3.5 cm,tended to reduce with increasing rotational speed.The variation coefficient of seeding quantity in each row and seeding uniformity was less than 6.5%and 32.0%,respectively.Field experiments demonstrated that the seedling was 9-13 plants per meter each row for three rapeseed varieties.The variation coefficient of plants was less than 25.0%for six rows and their yields reached 2761 kg/hm2,which realized the mechanized planting requirements.The results can optimize structure of an air-assisted centralized metering system and improve seeding performance.

Design and experiment of the double-seed hole seeding precision seed metering device for peanuts

A secondary seeding precision double-seed peanut hole seeding seed metering device was designed to improve the performance of the peanut planting equipment and provide a solution for problems on the high seed charge that can cause poor cavitation and uniformity easily.The main structure and operation parameters in terms of groove length,seed charge height,seed-bed belt speed,and rotation speed of the seed metering wheel were determined through theoretical analysis.Single-factor and orthogonal tests were carried out through the JPS-12 seed metering device test bench,and the peanut variety Jinonghua-3 was selected as the test object.The single hole double-seed rate,qualified rate,the variation coefficient of hole spacing,and hole rate were chosen for evaluating the working performance.The results of the single-factor test showed that the seed metering performance is mainly affected by the groove length,the speed of the seed-bed belt and the rotation speed of the seed metering wheel,and the influence of the cavitation rate is minimal.The optimal seeding height is determined to be 40 mm.The results of the orthogonal test showed that the groove length was 27.3 mm,the seed-bed belt speed was 1.51 km/h,and the rotation speed of the seed metering wheel was 14.11 r/min.What’s more,a regression model based on the orthogonal test results was established,the qualified rate of the number of holes obtained after optimizing the model was 98.84%,the variation coefficient of hole spacing was 9.74%,and the hole rate was 1.40%.Notably,the working performances of the device can meet the requirement of precision seeding.

Optimizing the seed-cell filling performance of an inclined plate seed metering device using integrated ANN-PSO approach

Uniformseed distribution within the row is the prime objective of precision planters for better crop growth and yield.Inclined plate planters are generally used for sowing bold seeds likemaize,groundnut,chickpea,and their operating parameters like the forward speed of operation,the seedmetering plate inclination,and the seed level in the hopper affect the cell fill and subsequently the uniformseed distribution.Therefore,to achieve precise seed distribution,these parameters need to be optimized.In the present study,out of the different optimization techniques,a new intelligent optimization technique based on the integrated ANN-PSO approach has been used to achieve the set goal.A 3–5-1 artificial neural network(ANN)model was developed for predicting the cell fill of inclined plate seedmetering device,and the particle swarmoptimization(PSO)algorithmwas applied to obtain the optimum values of the operating parameters corresponding to 100%cell fill.The most appropriate optimal values of the forward speed of operation,the seed metering plate inclination,and the seed level in the hopper for achieving 100%cell fill were found to be 3 km/h,50-degree,and 75%of total height,respectively.The proposed integrated ANN-PSO approach was capable of predicting the optimal values of operating parameters with amaximumdeviation of 2%compared to the experimental results,thus confirmed the reliability of the proposed optimization technique.