Optimized design and performance evaluation of an electric cup-chain potato metering device
Keywords:
potato planter, cup-chain metering device, multi-objective optimization, regression methodAbstract
The cup-chain metering device is commonly used in potato planters despite its problems of missing-seeding, double-seeding and ground wheel sliding. A mechanical-electrical design was developed for planters to resolve these problems. A regression experiment was conducted with three factors (chain speed, chain tightening distance and cup tilting) and two indicators (missing-seeding rate and double-seeding rate). Based on the results of regression experiment, a numerical regression model was built and a multi-objective optimization method was used to get an optimal solution. Subsequently, the optimized device was tested in the field. The device design presents a tilting seed cup with a guard plate and an electric control system. The laboratory test showed that the missing-seeding rate increased with the chain speed. It initially decreases and then increases with the chain tightening distance and cup tilting angle. The double-seeding rate declines with chain speed. It increases initially and declines afterward with the chain tightening distance. The optimization resulted in a missing-seeding rate of 4.39% and a double-seeding rate of 8.78% under the parameters of 0.32 m/s seeding speed, 0.94×10-3 m tightening distance, and 12.5° cup tilting angle. The field test demonstrated that electric control instead of ground wheel-driven chain enables fast seeding and precise intra-row seeding distance. Keywords: potato planter, cup-chain metering device, multi-objective optimization, regression method DOI: 10.3965/j.ijabe.20171002.2547 Citation: Niu K, Fang X F, Liu Y C, Lü C X, Yuan Y W. Optimized design and performance evaluation of an electric cup-chain potato metering device. Int J Agric & Biol Eng, 2017; 10(2): 36–43.References
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[22] Song Y M, Wang F E. The general development of potato machinery at home and abroad. Journal of Agricultural Mechanization Research, 2008; 25(9): 224–227.
[23] Han H, Chen W, Du W L, Zheng D H, Liu G S. Analysis and test of the factors influence the seeding performance of potato planters. Journal of Agricultural Mechanization Research, 2016; 43(3): 209–217.
[24] Zhang Y, Li L X, Han H Y, Du M J, Dou Y C. Development status and prospect of mechanized planting micro potato. Journal of Anhui Agri. Sci. 2015; 43(4): 372–375. (in Chinese)
[25] GB/T 6242-2006. Equipment for planting-Potato planters-Method of testing.
[26] Zhang G Z, Zang Y, Luo X W, Wang Z M, Zhang Q, Zhang S S. Design and indoor simulated experiment of pneumatic rice seed metering device. Int J Agric & Biol Eng, 2015; 8(4): 10–18.
[27] Yu J J, Liao Y T, Cong J L, Yang S, Liao Q X. Simulation analysis and match experiment on negative and positive pressures of pneumatic precision metering device for rapeseed. Int J Agric & Biol Eng, 2014; 7(3): 1–12.
[28] Ren L Q. Optimization experiment design and analysis. Beijing: Higher Education Press, 2003: 79–84. (in Chinese)
[29] Qi J T, Jia H L, Li Y, Yu H B, Liu X H, Lan Y B, et al. Design and test of fault monitoring system for corn precision planter. Int J Agric & Biol Eng, 2015; 8(6): 13–19.
[2] Liu Q W, Wu J M, Wang D, Sun W, Wang G P, Shi L R. Current status and progress of the potato seeder. Journal of Agricultural Mechanization Research, 2013; 35(6): 238–241. (in Chinese)
[3] Yang L, He X T, Cui T, Zhang D X, Shi S, Zhang R, et al. Development of mechatronic driving system for seed meters equipped on conventional precision corn planter. Int J Agric & Biol Eng, 2015; 8(4): 1–9.
[4] Jiang Y Y. Combination of agricultural machinery and agronomy in their scientific and technological innovations. Transactions of the CSAM, 2007; 46(3): 163, 179–181. (in Chinese)
[5] Lü J Q, Yang Y, Li Z H, Shang Q Q, Li J C, Liu Z Y. Design and experiment of an air-suction potato seed metering device. Int J Agric & Biol Eng, 2016; 9(5): 33–42.
[6] Tang H J, Lv Z Q, Liu S F. The design of new potato planter. Journal of Agricultural Mechanization Research, 2015; 37(12): 148–151. (in Chinese)
[7] Ebrahem I Z, Ayman A E, Guidetti R. New small potato planter for Egyptian agriculture. Journal of Agricultural Engineering, 2011; 42(3): 7–13.
[8] Buitenwerf H, Hoogmoed W B, Lerink P, Müller J. Assessment of the behavior of potatoes in a cup-belt planter. Biosystems Engineering, 2006; 95(1): 35–41.
[9] Ilyes S, Popescu S, Voicu E. Experimental device for the researches on the precision of the tubers planting distance within the row for different potato planters. in Research People and Actual Tasks on Multidisciplinary Sciences/ Proceedings of the Third International Conference, Lozenec: Bulgaria, 2011; 2: 153–158.
[10] Szczepaniak J, Pawlowski T, Grzechowiak R, Kromulski J, Rutkowski J. Experimental tests and computer simulations of a combination tractor/potato planter: the identification and optimization of parameters. Applied engineering in agriculture, 2015; 31(5): 126–136.
[11] McPhee J E, Beattie B M, Corkrey R, Fennell F M. Spacing uniformity—yield effects and in-field measurement. American Potato Journal, 1996; 73(1): 167–171.
[12] Sieczka J B, Ewing E E, Markwardt E D. Potato planter performance and effects on non-uniform spacing. American Potato Journal, 1986; 63: 25–37.
[13] Liu H J, Liu J F, Li J P. Comprehensive utilization technology of orchard pruning branches. Journal of Agricultural Mechanization Research, 2011; 33(2): 214–217, 221.
[14] Boydas M G, Uygan F. Influence of seed physical properties and speed on the external mechanical damage index and in-row spacing uniformity in an automatic potato planter. Journal of agricultural sciences, 2012; 18(2): 126–136.
[15] Al-Gaadi K A. Performance evaluation of a cup-belt potato planter at different operation conditions and tuber shapes. American-Eurasian Journal of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences, 2011; 10(5): 821–828.
[16] Al-Gaadi K A, Marey S A. Effect of forward speed and tuber characteristics on tuber spacing uniformity for a cup-belt potato planter. Middle East Journal of Scientific Research, 2011; 8(8): 753–758.
[17] Zheng D H, Chen W, Du W L, Fan M S, Liu G S. The study and analysis of cup seed sowing technology and uniformity. Journal of Agricultural Mechanization Research, 2016; 38(7): 106–109. (in Chinese)
[18] Szczepaniak J. Parameters identification of agricultural combination tractor-potato planter model. Journal of Research and Applications in Agricultural Engineering, 2008; 53(2): 16–20.
[19] Hamid A, Ahmad D, Rukunuddin I H. Performance of sweet potato transplanting machine on mineral and bris soils. AMA-Agricultural Mechanization, in Asia Africa and Latin America, 2010; 41(1): 55–59.
[20] Pawlowski T, Kromulski J. Control theory models of the agricultural set (tractor-potato planter) driver. 4th International Symposium on Applications of Modelling as an Innovative Technology in the Agri-Food-Chain-Model-IT, 2007; 802(Madrid): 227–331.
[21] Lu Y F, Sun C Z, Wang F M, Su G L, Shi D Y. The improved design of potato planter seeding-unit. Journal of Agricultural Mechanization Research, 2015; 37(12): 140–143. (in Chinese)
[22] Song Y M, Wang F E. The general development of potato machinery at home and abroad. Journal of Agricultural Mechanization Research, 2008; 25(9): 224–227.
[23] Han H, Chen W, Du W L, Zheng D H, Liu G S. Analysis and test of the factors influence the seeding performance of potato planters. Journal of Agricultural Mechanization Research, 2016; 43(3): 209–217.
[24] Zhang Y, Li L X, Han H Y, Du M J, Dou Y C. Development status and prospect of mechanized planting micro potato. Journal of Anhui Agri. Sci. 2015; 43(4): 372–375. (in Chinese)
[25] GB/T 6242-2006. Equipment for planting-Potato planters-Method of testing.
[26] Zhang G Z, Zang Y, Luo X W, Wang Z M, Zhang Q, Zhang S S. Design and indoor simulated experiment of pneumatic rice seed metering device. Int J Agric & Biol Eng, 2015; 8(4): 10–18.
[27] Yu J J, Liao Y T, Cong J L, Yang S, Liao Q X. Simulation analysis and match experiment on negative and positive pressures of pneumatic precision metering device for rapeseed. Int J Agric & Biol Eng, 2014; 7(3): 1–12.
[28] Ren L Q. Optimization experiment design and analysis. Beijing: Higher Education Press, 2003: 79–84. (in Chinese)
[29] Qi J T, Jia H L, Li Y, Yu H B, Liu X H, Lan Y B, et al. Design and test of fault monitoring system for corn precision planter. Int J Agric & Biol Eng, 2015; 8(6): 13–19.
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Published
2017-03-31
How to Cite
Kang, N., Xianfa, F., Yangchun, L., Chengxu, L., & Yanwei, Y. (2017). Optimized design and performance evaluation of an electric cup-chain potato metering device. International Journal of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, 10(2), 36–43. Retrieved from https://ijabe.migration.pkpps03.publicknowledgeproject.org/index.php/ijabe/article/view/2547
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Power and Machinery Systems
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