The Process of Separating Buckwheat and Wheat Grain in a Pneumatic Cone Separator in the Context of Sustainable Agriculture

Abstract

In machines and devices used for separating and cleaning seed mixtures, the components of such mixtures can be separated in a stream of air. The efficiency of separation of a two-component (model) mixture containing wheat kernels and buckwheat nutlets was investigated. The main crop seeds and other crop seeds imitating impurities accounted for 80% and 20% (w/w), respectively. The experiment involved a pneumatic cleaning device with an immobile conical surface, designed by the authors, where mixture components are separated in a stream of air. The seed mixture was separated in a separator with the shape of an inverted cone, where the seeds were set into motion by a stream of air. The separation efficiency of the analyzed two-component mixture in the designed separator exceeded 78%. Regression equations describing the separation efficiency index of the entire seed mixture (ε) and the separation efficiency of the main crop seeds (ηp) and seeds imitating impurities (ηz) were derived. The coefficient of determination (R2) for the above regression equations describing the separation efficiency of the mixture components (main crop seeds and seeds imitating impurities) and the separation efficiency index of the entire seed mixture ranged from 0.81 to 0.94. This result indicates that the developed equations were characterized by satisfactory and highly satisfactory fit to empirical data, and that they can be applied to accurately predict the quality of the seed separation process in the cleaning device designed by the authors. The developed equations can be effectively used to model and automatically control separation processes in the proposed separator.

An Analysis of the Spelt Dehulling Process in a Cylinder Separator

“…Harvested spelt spikelets were threshed, and whole kernels, damaged kernels, spikelets and glumes were separated from threshed material according to the methodology described previously by Anders et al, (2020). Mixture components were separated in a pneumatic separator (Kolankowska and Choszcz, 2018) (air flow rate -7.5 m•s -1 ) and a Fritsch Analysette 3 vibratory sieve shaker (Germany, serial No. 03.7200/04463) equipped with five mesh screens with longitudinal openings (4.0×20 mm, 3.5×20 mm, 3.0×20 mm; 2.5×20 mm, and 2.0×20 mm).…”

Design and Testing of a Pneumatic Grain Aspirator for Efficient Separation of Impurities

“…A significant, influential factor would be whether a cyclone will be coupled to the aspirator to remove the impurities from air. The "CFAM 3 [kW] 2Pole Backward Inclined Centrifugal Fan" produces a maximum pressure of 3580 [Pa] at a minimum volume flow rate of 880 [m 3 /h] and a minimum pressure of 640 [Pa] at a maximum volume flow rate of 2940 [m 3 /h]. This fan's wide operating range meets our requirements, making it an ideal option for the aspirator.…”

“…Growing yields and enhancing crop quality are the main goals of contemporary agriculture [2]. According to Kolankowska et al, [3] the storage and processing of grain heavily rely on cleaning seeds. The use of grain aspirators can reduce the chance of mould development, bug invasions, and other issues that affect the safety and quality of the grain by eliminating debris and other contaminants, thus leading to less grain spoilage and contamination during the storage period and transportation [4].…”