Simulation of operation processes of centrifugal-air separator for post-harvest grain handling

Abstract

The structural and functional diagrams of a centrifugal air separator are discussed; they make it possible to construct a mathematical model of the process of separating the grain mixture. The separator being developed consists of an inlet pipe, a cylindrical body with air intake windows, a collecting cone, a setting chamber with a damper and a mechanism for rough adjustment of the air flow speed, an outlet valve, a pipe for removing light impurities, a pipe for unloading purified grain and a drive. Inside the cylindrical body there is an annular pneumatic separating channel formed by a conical reflector and a spreading plate. The conical reflector has a reverse cone in the lower part, and a cylinder with an adjusting cup and an adjustment mechanism in the upper part. The pneumatic separation channel is connected through an aspiration channel to the sediment chamber. The setting chamber is connected to the fan using a pipe which is connected to the cyclone through an aspiration pipe. The initial and boundary conditions of the mathematical model of the technological process of operation of a centrifugal air separator are determined. The results of numerical simulation in the KompasFlow application are shown. The results of air flow speed control are presented. The results of the study were analyzed and the features of using the KompasFlow application to study the air flow in a centrifugal air separator were determined. The range of air flow for handling wheat and the effect of changing parameters on the speed of entry of the air flow into the cyclone were identified. Ways to further improve this type of air separator and the possibility of technological adjustments for working on a wide range of agricultural crops were identified. The options for using the proposed centrifugal air separator in various production lines, both stationary and mobile, as well as in flat screen and centrifugal screen separators are presented.