Numerical simulation of Fertilizer Shunt-Plate with uniformity based on EDEM software

Background: The application of fertilizing machinery is very important especially to the growing of alfalfa. The effect of uniformity is one of the most significant indicators to evaluate the performance of the fertilizing machinery during the fertilizing process. Fertilizer-shunted-plate is the key part, which can achieve the uniformity of fertilizing. The structure parameters optimization of the fertilizer-shunted-plate is a key task for the design of fertilizing machinery. Objective: The purpose of this paper is to optimize the structure parameters of fertilizer-shunted-plate through the way of the numerical simulation with EDEM software and orthogonal experiment analysis. Method: The variation coefficient of fertilizing uniformity was regarded as the evaluation index and the single-factor experiments were executed, during which the parameters of the fertilizer-shunted-plate were analyzed according to their performance based on Discrete Element Method with EDEM software, including knob-width, slanting angle, distance from the top side, vertical distance and horizon-distance. Three parameters of them were selected to establish the orthogonal experiments with interaction in order to find their effects to fertilizing uniformity, which were knob-width, slanting angle and horizon-distance. Result: The experiments showed that the parameters of distance from the top side and vertical distance had little effect on the fertilizing uniformity performance. When the parameters of knob-width, slanting angle and horizon-distance were selected as 16 mm, 45 degrees and 27.5 mm respectively, the fertilizing uniformity performance could get a very effective result. The variation coefficients of fertilization uniformity with former fertilizer shunted-plate and the optimized one were 12.6% and 17.2% respectively. And the field test was carried out with similar result compared to the numerical simulation process. Conclusion: The research shows that Discrete Element Method and EDEM software are powerful tools to analyze the minute particles Kinematic characteristics and orthogonal experiment can be used efficiently to the optimization of the part parameters. The application of modern design methods and computer tools can promote the development of agricultural machinery and reduce the cost of it.