Computational Fluid Dynamics Modeling of a Pneumatic Air Jet Nozzle for an application in Coffee Fruit Harvesting

Optimizing Harvesting Efficiency: Development and Assessment of a Pneumatic Air Jet Excitation Nozzle for Delicate Biostructures in Food Processing

“…Prior to construction, the nozzles investigated in this study underwent a comprehensive design, evaluation, optimization, and selection process. This involved a parametric Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis where various configurations of nozzle length (L) and diameter (d), as depicted in Figure 1, along with different internal structures, were assessed as depicted in [21]. Factors such as eddy viscosity, air velocity profiles, and streamlines were taken into account, alongside the flow regime.…”

“…Factors such as eddy viscosity, air velocity profiles, and streamlines were taken into account, alongside the flow regime. Subsequently, those configurations exhibiting predicted homogeneous behavior were fabricated and subjected to image analysis to evaluate their jet morphology [21]. This step served to validate the CFD results and compare different internal geometry designs.…”

“…A Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis of the three optimal designs, which was conducted in a previous study [21], involved simulating the most optimal nozzles under ideal conditions to obtain the velocity contour plot distribution. The CFD model results were further complemented by an experimental study of the jet morphometry, where the turbulence was analyzed by studying the sensitivity of the velocity and geometrical variation in the jet [21].…”

“…A Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis of the three optimal designs, which was conducted in a previous study [21], involved simulating the most optimal nozzles under ideal conditions to obtain the velocity contour plot distribution. The CFD model results were further complemented by an experimental study of the jet morphometry, where the turbulence was analyzed by studying the sensitivity of the velocity and geometrical variation in the jet [21]. To comprehensively characterize the flow-induced vibrations generated by the pneumatic air jets, a device that enables the characterization of the vibrational consequences of the air impact is crucial, for example, flow-induced continuousvibration sensing by implementing control performance of a multilayer beam structures containing pivot controls by means of an electromagnetic field [22].…”