After the harvesting process, the material obtained must undergo cleaning andsorting operations to remove foreign bodies, which determines the increase of purity soÂ that it can meet the quality requirements imposed. In order to achieve these operations,Â the most used machines are the ones with flat sieves and with airflow. Thus, in thisÂ paper was aimed to develop the working methodology for researching the process ofÂ separating wheat seeds on the plane sieves and the airflow of the TC600 CombinedÂ Separator in order to optimize the performance of this machine

Birsan, Mariana

Bunduchi, George

Casandroiu, Tudor

Paun, Anisoara

English

Annals of the University of Craiova - Agriculture, Montanology, Cadastre Series

Analele Universităţii din Craiova, seria Agricultură – Montanologie – Cadastru (Annals of the University of Craiova - Agriculture,Montanology, Cadastre Series) Vol. XLV 201513EXPERIMENTATION METHODOLOGY FOR SEEDS SEPARATION WITHPLAN SIEVE AND IN AIRFLOWBIRSAN MARIANA1), CASANDROIU TUDOR2),PĂUN ANIŞOARA1), BUNDUCHI GEORGE1)1)INMA Bucharest; 2)U.P. Bucharest / Romania;E-mail: marymmsa@yahoo.comKeywords: separator, cleaning, impurities removal, wheat, seedsABSTRACTAfter the harvesting process, the material obtained must undergo cleaning andsorting operations to remove foreign bodies, which determines the increase of purity sothat it can meet the quality requirements imposed. In order to achieve these operations,the most used machines are the ones with flat sieves and with airflow. Thus, in thispaper was aimed to develop the working methodology for researching the process ofseparating wheat seeds on the plane sieves and the airflow of the TC600 CombinedSeparator in order to optimize the performance of this machine.INTRODUCTIONAfter the harvesting process, the obtained material is presented as a mixture formedof the basic culture and various impurities of mineral or organic origin (vegetable scraps,minerals and/or weed seeds), which is why it cannot meet the quality requirementsimposed by the standards in force (SR ISO 11051: 1999 SR 13548: 2013 for wheat).The permissible foreign content of wheat for nutritional purposes is maximum 3%, inthis content limiting the content of corn-cockle to a maximum of 0.5% and other harmfulbodies to a maximum of 0.2% [2]. Broken, damaged or undeveloped seeds are lessresistant for storage being easily attacked by fungi and pests [2, 3, 4].The presence of weed seeds in the mass of seeds destined for sowing leads todecreasing crop yields or even compromising it, while in the mass of seeds dedicated forstorage in the view of preservation, it can lead to the degradation of main crop seeds. Forseeds destined for consumption, seed impurities decrease the nutritional value and thequality of food products, some even being poisonous (ergot fungus, corn-cockle, othertypes of fungi, etc.).Thus, before receiving a particular destination (sowing, consumption, processing,storage, etc.), the harvested product must be subjected to cleaning and sorting operationsaimed at removing foreign bodies, such as chaff, straw waste, weed seeds, soil, dust,metal scraps [2].Through these operations is aimed to increase product purity, also achieving thebetter conditions for preservation, storage, commercialization, consumption, etc.These operations require machines that have at the base of their working processthe difference between the physical characteristics of seeds and those of foreign bodies.The most used are those that combine the oscillatory movements of the working surface(sieve) with the action of airflow, thus combining the separation on the principle of specificmass the separation based on the aerodynamic principle.Thus, we intend to examine the process of separating the seeds of cereals on planesieves and in airflow in order to optimize the performances of the system CombinedSeparator TC 600, but first we developed the working methodology for experimentation,which we will present in below.Analele Universităţii din Craiova, seria Agricultură – Montanologie – Cadastru (Annals of the University of Craiova - Agriculture,Montanology, Cadastre Series) Vol. XLV 201514MATERIAL AND METHODThe experimental researches were carried out in laboratory conditions on modernequipment Combined Separator TC 600 existing in the laboratory of Agricultural Machineryof the Milling Collective of the National Institute of Agricultural Machinery Bucharest, in theperiod of time between February-May 2015.The Combined Separator TC 600 (Fig. 1) is a modern equipment designed and builtwithin INMA Bucharest, for pre cleaning and cleaning cereal seed (wheat, barley, rye),maize, pulses and oilseeds, which uses in the working two combined principles: sieving onsieves and aspiration in counter current of the product that is processed.The penetration of the product to be cleaned in the equipment occurs through thefeeding funnel (2) and is perform controlled by the flow control device (3). Once it reachesthe sieve driven by the two electro-vibrators (12), the material is subjected, both toseparation by size, and to separation in airflow. The inlet channel is double, provided withindependent air control devices (7, 8), so that a suction channel is located above thevibrating sieve and controls the layered suction and the other is mounted vertically andcontrols the suction of impurities from the light product fraction.Removing impurities is done progressively: with product sliding on the sieve(removing small impurities - C), under the action of the ascending airflow (light impuritiessituated on the sieve - D), as well as in the second suction channel where the cleanedproduct undergoes a new removal the light impurities.The experiments have been oriented for the purposes of determinations on theprocess of separating seeds on plane sieves and in airflow depending on the feed rate, theamplitude of the oscillation and the speed of the airflow through the double aspirationchannel.Fig. 1.  Diagram for the equipment Combined Separator TC 600:1. - Framework; 2. – feeding funnel; 3. – system for adjusting the flow;4. – vibrating sieve (separation plane); 5. – adjustable wall; 6. - valve for adjusting the sizes of the verticalsuction channel; 7. – valve for adjusting the flow of the air aspirated from the sieve; 8. - valve for adjustingthe air flow in the vertical channel; 9. – aspiration inlet; 10. – Funnel for evacuating small impurities;11. –Funnel for evacuating clean product; 12. – Electro-vibrator;13. – elastic elements; 14. – side view; 15. – inspection cover;A – product feeding; B – evacuating clean product;C – evacuating small impurities; D – evacuating light aspirated impurities.Analele Universităţii din Craiova, seria Agricultură – Montanologie – Cadastru (Annals of the University of Craiova - Agriculture,Montanology, Cadastre Series) Vol. XLV 201515RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONSElaboration of the working methodology for experiments consisted in:1. Analyzing the material for processingIn order to conduct experimental researches, winter wheat of the Dropia varietyoriginated in the area of Ialomiţa County was used, from the production of 2014.For the correct study of the process of separation was necessary to analyze thematerial to be processed, carrying of the following steps:a) taking samples- sample extraction was achieved from the product for processing(wheat) that was in bulk state, according to current standards.b) determining the characteristics of particles of cereals subjected to research,namely: seed size (l, b, c), seed humidity u (%), mass of one thousand seeds(MTS) purity[%], hectoliter weight [kg/hl ] (fig. 2), respecting recommendations from literature and froma series of authors, and using adequate equipment, corresponding for determining thedifferent physical properties. [1, 4, 5]Fig.2. Determining the hectoliter weightFrom the qualitative point of view, the values of the main characteristics determinedare given in the table below.Table 1Characterization in terms of quality of the product for processingNo. Characteristic MU Parametervalue Obs.1 The mass of one thousand grains (MTG) – average value [g] 38.762 MTG- Coefficient of variation [%] 2.233Variation of seeddimensions:ΔlΔbΔc[mm] 1.61.431.24 Humidity [%] 12.965 Purity [%] 93.746 Hectoliter weight [kg/hl] 74.27Light foreign bodies(plant scraps, straws, weeds, husk, dust, etc. with a thickness <1.5 mm),Csui and Csue[%] 2.69Total foreign bodies[%]:4.09Small foreign bodies (< 2 mm),Csmişi Csme [%] 0.15Large foreign bodies (> 2 mm),CsMişi CsMe [%] 1.25Broken seeds [%] 1.0Shriveled grains [%] 0.96Analele Universităţii din Craiova, seria Agricultură – Montanologie – Cadastru (Annals of the University of Craiova - Agriculture,Montanology, Cadastre Series) Vol. XLV 201516One can notice that the total content of foreign bodies is 4.09%, to which are added1% broken seeds and 0.96% shriveled seeds of wheat. In figure 3 are shown thecomponents of the material to be processed.Fig.3. The content of material to be processed2. Preparing the equipment for conducting experimentsThe installation on which experiments were conducted allows adjusting certainparameters, namely: product feed rate, oscillation amplitude and speed of the airflowthrough the double suction channel.For conducting the experiments it was necessary to determine experimentally thelimits of adjustment allowed by the machine for each parameter and to establish the valuesof these parameters at which the experiments will be carried out for the process ofseparating seeds of wheat on plane sieves and in airflow.a. Calibrating the seed feed rateThe system for adjusting the feed rate (3), shown in figure 4, is composed of adamper plate and two identical devices for adjusting the feed rate. Each feed controldevice acts on the damper plate through a tension spring. For a balanced change of thedamper plate position, the two rosette handles that drive on vertical the axles of feed ratecontrol devices (two screws) are equally turned. Thus, turning the handles clockwisecloses the damper plate, and in the opposite direction it opens it.We closed the damper plate, put seeds in feeding funnel and noticed that is notflowing. Then we open the damper plate to maximum and measuring with the tape lineinside the feed funnel, we determined that the damper plate opening range is 0 ~ 30 mm.From this range we have chosen four values of damper plate opening, namely 30mm, 25 mm, 20 mm and 15 mm for which is performed the calibration of the seeds feedrate.Thus we tuned the damper plate opening to 25 mm. At that moment, using a redpermanent marker we signed the first winding spindle handle visible for the rosette handleto mark the position 3 corresponding to the Q3 flow for opening the damper plate at 25mm. We adjusted the damper plate opening to 20 mm and with a blue permanent markerwe signed the first winding spindle visible after the rosette handle to mark the position 2corresponding to the flow Q2.We adjusted the damper plate opening to 15 mm and with a green permanentmarker we signed the first winding spindle visible after the rosette handle to mark theposition 1 corresponding to the flow Q1.Analele Universităţii din Craiova, seria Agricultură – Montanologie – Cadastru (Annals of the University of Craiova - Agriculture,Montanology, Cadastre Series) Vol. XLV 201517Fig.4. the system for adjusting the seed flow rate:a. damper plate; b. device for adjusting the feed rate; c. traction springTaking into consideration that the adjustable inclined plane (damper plate) ismounted on the framework 1 with hinges, was necessary to extract the sieve bed throughthe inspection door (15) in order to collect the material flowing through the hopper, so thatit can be weighed.Therefore, to manner of conducting the measurements was: open the damper plate,fill the hopper, the material starts to flow and simultaneously the chronometer is startedand the material is collected, after the time agreed passes, stop both the chronometer andcollecting of material, which is weighed .For each position of the damper plate, three repetitions were done at different times(40 s, 50 s, 60 s), and using the values obtained, was determined by calculation the feedrate (q = m / t).The values obtained did not vary considerably, so the average was calculated.So, for the damper plate position i, flows the Qi flow rate with the value - theaverage of three qi repetitions. Table 2 summarizes the values for the calibrated flow rate.Table 2Values for the calibrated flow ratesPositionnumber(i)Damper plateopening(mm)CharacteristicMeasured values Average valueTime(s)Mass(kg)Flow rateqi (kg/h) Qi (kg/h)1 1540 15.5 1395140750 19.51 140560 23.7 14202 2040 26.6 2394239950 33.3 239860 40.1 24063 2540 40.5 3647365350 50.7 365260 61 36604 3040 49.9 4491450150 62.5 450060 75.2 4512Analele Universităţii din Craiova, seria Agricultură – Montanologie – Cadastru (Annals of the University of Craiova - Agriculture,Montanology, Cadastre Series) Vol. XLV 201518b. Calibration regarding the size of oscillations amplitude of the sievedepending on the position of counterweights of the oscillation generatorAdjusting the oscillations amplitude for the sieve is done by changing the positionsof counterweights of the oscillations generator (Fig. 5), in the case of the equipment used,of the  motor-vibrators.Fig.5. Position of the motor-vibrators counterweightsa. 100% overlap; b. 60% overlap.The size of the sieve’s oscillations amplitude was determined using a pencil and aclamp attached to the frame of the sieve. A sheet of paper was placed under the pencil,the machine was started, and the oscillating movement of sieve described a line whoselength depends on the position of the counterweights.Thus, the values obtained are shown in the table below:Table 3Values of calibrated amplitudesNo. Counterweight position (%) Sieve oscillations amplitude (mm)1 100 102 80 73 60 5c. Measuring the speed of the airflowGiven that we only have one ventilator and that the two channels of aspirationcommunicate, it results that the position of the damper plates for regulating the flow of airaspirated influence each other, so if the position of the valve of one channel is changed,the characteristics of the airflow from the other side are modified, and vice versa.Thus, by adjusting all the damper flaps at the maximum indication on the machineand fixing the adjustable wall – to a vertical position, we measured the speed of the airflowusing an type Testovent anemometer, and we obtained the data presented in the tablebelow:Table 4Values of the speed of airCharacteristic M/UValue of the characteristicMeasurements at experimentationsAverageP.I P.II P.IIIAir speed in the vertical channel m/s 8.60 8.10 8.80 8.500Air speed in the horizontal channel m/s 7.60 7.75 7.73 7.693Analele Universităţii din Craiova, seria Agricultură – Montanologie – Cadastru (Annals of the University of Craiova - Agriculture,Montanology, Cadastre Series) Vol. XLV 201519The influence of adjustments of airflow in the two aspiration channels is a a problemthat was not solved in useful time for preliminary experiments. Its research is taken intoconsideration for future experiments, the actual ones.CONCLUSIONSThe elaboration of this methodology was made for preparing the machine forconducting experiments concerning the process of separation on sieves and in iarcurrents.Calibrations were made regarding the feeding flow rate, the oscillations amplitudeand the speed of air.Therefore:- Feed rates for feeding wheat seeds are in the range of 0 ~ 4501 kg/h and thevalues at which the experiments will be conducted are: 1407 kg/h, 2399 kg/h,3653 kg/h and 4501 kg/h;- The values of amplitudes are: 10 mm, 7 mm and 5 mm;- The speed of air is of 8.5 m/s in the vertical channel and of 7.693 m/s in thehorizontal channel.Preliminary experiments will be conducted with these values, following the separateinfluence of each factor, considering constant the other factors for each group ofexperiments.Also, it will be kept in mind the necessity to research the influence of theadjustments of airflow from the two channels of aspiration on the process of separation.BIBLIOGRAPHY1. Anghel Gh., Bucurescu N., et al. – Determining the quality of seeds, Academy R.P.R.Publishing, Bucharest, 1960;2. Căsăndroiu Tudor – Equipment for primary processing and storing of agriculturalproducts, Course, Vol. 1, UPB, 1993;3. Căsăndroiu Tudor - Equipment for primary processing and storing of agriculturalproducts, course notes, UPB,1993;4. Căsăndroiu T., David L. – Equipment for primary processing and storing ofagricultural products, Guidelines for laboratory work, UPB, 1994;5. Krasnicenco A. V. – Manual for the manufacturer of agricultural machinery (translationfrom Russian), vol. II, Technical Publishing, Bucharest, 1964.

EXPERIMENTATION METHODOLOGY FOR SEEDS SEPARATION WITH PLAN SIEVE AND IN AIRFLOW

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EXPERIMENTATION METHODOLOGY FOR SEEDS SEPARATION WITH PLAN SIEVE AND IN AIRFLOW

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Annals of the University of Craiova - Agriculture, Montanology, Cadastre Series