Design and Experimental Study of a Dual-Side-Disturbance-Facilitated Air-Suction Precision Seed Metering Device for Corn
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. The Overall Structure and Working Principle of the Dual-Side Disturbance-Facilitated Air-Suction Precision Seed Metering Device
2.1. Overall Structure of the Dual-Side-Disturbance-Facilitated Air-Suction Precision Seed Metering Device
2.2. Working Principle of the Dual-Side-Disturbance-Facilitated Air-Suction Precision Seed Metering Device
3. Analysis of the Dual-Side-Disturbance Seed-Filling Principle
3.1. Analysis of the Disruption-Assisted Filling by the Upper Guiding Groove
3.2. Analysis of the Disturbance-Facilitated Seeding Effect of the Lower Diversion Groove
3.3. Parameter Design of the Seed Metering Disc
4. Experiments and Methods
4.1. Test Bench Equipment
4.2. Experimental Design
- (1)
- A Box–Behnken orthogonal bench test is conducted to analyze the effects of various experimental factors and their interactions on the qualification index, missing seeding index, and double seeding index of the seed metering device. This approach aims to accurately determine the optimal parameter combination for the negative suction chamber pressure and the inclination angles of the dual-side guiding grooves. The experimental coding is shown in Table 1 (operating speed: 12 km/h). The guiding slots on the upper and lower sides with different angles are manufactured using 3D photopolymerization technology, with photosensitive resin as the material, as shown in Figure 7.
- (2)
- Based on the optimal parameter combination, adaptability tests for the operating speed were conducted to evaluate the seeding performance of the dual-side-disturbance seed-filling air-assisted precision seeder under operating speeds of 8, 10, 12, 14, and 16 km/h.
- (3)
- Comparative tests were conducted under operating speeds of 8–12 km/h between the seed metering devices with and without dual-side-facilitated diversion grooves to verify the superior seeding quality of the dual-side-disturbance seed-filling air-assisted precision seeder.
4.3. Test Metrics
5. Experimental Results and Discussion
5.1. Box–Behnken Orthogonal Test
5.1.1. Statistical Analysis of Test Results
5.1.2. Establishment of Regression Models and Significance Tests
5.1.3. Response Surface Analysis of the Effects of Significant Interaction Factors on Performance Indicators
5.1.4. Parameter Optimization and Validation Test
5.2. Operating Speed Adaptability Test
5.3. Comparative Test
5.4. Energy Consumption Comparison Test
6. Conclusions
- (1)
- To address the issue of poor seed filling and a decreased sowing quality in air-assisted seeders during high-speed operation, a dual-side flow guide groove disturbance seed-filling air-assisted seeder was designed. The main structure and working principle of the seeder were introduced, and a theoretical analysis of the optimal angles of the dual-side flow guide grooves was conducted. The optimal range for the upper-side flow guide groove angle was found to be −29° to −19°, and for the lower-side flow guide groove, it was 72° to 90°.
- (2)
- The validation experimental results showed that when the negative suction chamber pressure was 3.7 kPa, the upper-side flow guide groove angle was −26.9°, and the lower-side flow guide groove angle was 72.9°, the experimental results were as follows: the qualification index was 97.7%, missed seeding index was 1.3%, and double seeding index was 1%. The working speed adaptability test showed that when the working speed was ≤14 km/h, the seeder’s qualification index was above 97.1%, the missed seeding index was below 1.5%, and the double seeding index was below 1.4%. The seeder demonstrated good adaptability to operating speeds. The comparative experimental results indicated that when the operating speed was between 8 and 12 km/h, the air-assisted seeder with dual-side-disturbance seed-filling flow guide grooves had an increase of more than 2.1% in the qualification index, demonstrating a superior seed-filling quality. The energy consumption comparative test results show that under the same operating speed conditions, when the qualification index is approximately the same, the dual-side-disturbance-facilitated air-suction seed metering device with dual-side guiding slots requires a reduction of more than 0.7 kPa in negative pressure, effectively reducing energy consumption.
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Code | Factor | ||
---|---|---|---|
Negative Pressure X1 (kPa) | Upper Flow Guide Slot Inclination Angle X2 (°) | Lower Flow Guide Slot Inclination Angle X3 (°) | |
−1 | 3 | −29 | 72 |
0 | 4 | −24 | 81 |
1 | 5 | −19 | 90 |
Serial Number | Test Factors | Test Metrics | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
X1 | X2 | X3 | Qualification Index Y1 | Missed Seeding Index Y2 | Double Seeding Index Y3 | |
1 | 5 | −19 | 81 | 93.4 | 3.3 | 3.3 |
2 | 4 | −24 | 81 | 97.2 | 1.3 | 1.5 |
3 | 3 | −29 | 81 | 95.5 | 2.2 | 2.3 |
4 | 4 | −24 | 81 | 97.3 | 1.6 | 1.1 |
5 | 5 | −24 | 72 | 95.5 | 2.8 | 1.7 |
6 | 4 | −19 | 72 | 96.1 | 1.8 | 2.1 |
7 | 4 | −29 | 90 | 96.3 | 1.6 | 2.1 |
8 | 5 | −29 | 81 | 95.1 | 3.1 | 1.8 |
9 | 4 | −24 | 81 | 97.1 | 1.5 | 1.4 |
10 | 5 | −24 | 90 | 93.9 | 3.3 | 2.8 |
11 | 3 | −24 | 90 | 95.2 | 2.9 | 1.9 |
12 | 3 | −24 | 72 | 96.5 | 2.1 | 1.4 |
13 | 4 | −19 | 90 | 95.8 | 2.1 | 2.1 |
14 | 4 | −24 | 81 | 96.9 | 1.5 | 1.6 |
15 | 4 | −29 | 72 | 97.5 | 1.5 | 1 |
16 | 4 | −24 | 81 | 97.1 | 1.5 | 1.4 |
17 | 3 | −19 | 81 | 94.9 | 2.9 | 2.2 |
Source of Variation | Qualification Index Y1 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Sum of Squares | Degree of Freedom | F | p | |
Model | 22.93 | 9 | 47.81 | <0.0001 |
X1 | 2.20 | 1 | 41.38 | 0.0004 |
X2 | 2.20 | 1 | 41.38 | 0.0004 |
X3 | 2.42 | 1 | 45.42 | 0.0003 |
X1X2 | 0.3025 | 1 | 5.68 | 0.0487 |
X1X3 | 0.0225 | 1 | 0.4223 | 0.5365 |
X2X3 | 0.2025 | 1 | 3.80 | 0.0922 |
X12 | 13.23 | 1 | 248.26 | <0.0001 |
X22 | 1.63 | 1 | 30.62 | 0.0009 |
X32 | 0.0221 | 1 | 0.4153 | 0.5398 |
Residuals | 0.3730 | 7 | ||
Misfitting | 0.2850 | 3 | 4.32 | 0.0958 |
error | 0.0880 | 4 | ||
sum | 23.30 | 16 | ||
R2 | 0.9634 |
Source of Variation | Missed Seeding Index Y2 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Sum of Squares | Degree of Freedom | F | p | |
Model | 8.08 | 9 | 40.39 | <0.0001 |
X1 | 0.7200 | 1 | 32.41 | 0.0007 |
X2 | 0.3613 | 1 | 16.26 | 0.0050 |
X3 | 0.3613 | 1 | 16.26 | 0.0050 |
X1X2 | 0.0625 | 1 | 2.81 | 0.1374 |
X1X3 | 0.0225 | 1 | 1.01 | 0.3477 |
X2X3 | 0.0100 | 1 | 0.4502 | 0.5238 |
X12 | 6.16 | 1 | 277.51 | <0.0001 |
X22 | 0.1441 | 1 | 6.49 | 0.0383 |
X32 | 0.0304 | 1 | 1.37 | 0.2802 |
Residuals | 0.1555 | 7 | ||
Misfitting | 0.1075 | 3 | 2.99 | 0.1591 |
error | 0.0480 | 4 | ||
sum | 8.23 | 16 | ||
R2 | 0.9568 |
Source of Variation | Double Seeding Index Y3 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Sum of Squares | Degree of Freedom | F | p | |
Model | 5.39 | 9 | 18.43 | 0.0004 |
X1 | 0.4050 | 1 | 12.46 | 0.0096 |
X2 | 0.7813 | 1 | 24.04 | 0.0017 |
X3 | 0.9112 | 1 | 28.04 | 0.0011 |
X1X2 | 0.6400 | 1 | 19.69 | 0.0030 |
X1X3 | 0.0900 | 1 | 2.77 | 0.1400 |
X2X3 | 0.3025 | 1 | 9.31 | 0.0186 |
X12 | 1.33 | 1 | 40.99 | 0.0004 |
X22 | 0.8059 | 1 | 24.80 | 0.0016 |
X32 | 0.0007 | 1 | 0.0202 | 0.8909 |
Residuals | 0.2275 | 7 | ||
Misfitting | 0.0875 | 3 | 0.8333 | 0.5413 |
error | 0.1400 | 4 | ||
sum | 5.62 | 16 | ||
R2 | 0.9075 |
Operating Speed | Qualified Index/% | Missed Seeding Index/% | Double Seeding Index/% |
---|---|---|---|
8 | 99.1 | 0.6 | 0.3 |
10 | 98.6 | 0.9 | 0.5 |
12 | 97.7 | 1.3 | 1.0 |
14 | 97.1 | 1.5 | 1.4 |
16 | 95.6 | 2.3 | 2.1 |
Seed Metering Device | Operating Speeds (km·h−1) | Qualified Indexes % |
---|---|---|
The air-suction seed metering device with dual-side-disturbance-facilitated diversion grooves | 8 | 99.2 |
10 | 98.5 | |
12 | 97.8 | |
The air-suction seed metering device without dual-side-disturbance-facilitated diversion grooves | 8 | 97.1 |
10 | 95.5 | |
12 | 94.2 |
Seed Planter Type | Operating Speed (km·h−1) | Seed-Filling Quality Index % | Wind Pressure kPa |
---|---|---|---|
Air-suction Seeder with Double-Side Flow Guide Grooves and Double-Side Seed Disturbance | 8 | 97.2 | 3.3 |
10 | 95.5 | 3.8 | |
12 | 93.8 | 4.2 | |
Conventional Air-Suction Seeder without Double-Side Flow Guide Grooves | 8 | 97.3 | 4.1 |
10 | 95.6 | 4.5 | |
12 | 93.7 | 4.9 |
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Yang, F.; Song, Q.; Li, Y.; Chu, S.; Li, B.; Zhao, S. Design and Experimental Study of a Dual-Side-Disturbance-Facilitated Air-Suction Precision Seed Metering Device for Corn. Agriculture 2025, 15, 763. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15070763
Yang F, Song Q, Li Y, Chu S, Li B, Zhao S. Design and Experimental Study of a Dual-Side-Disturbance-Facilitated Air-Suction Precision Seed Metering Device for Corn. Agriculture. 2025; 15(7):763. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15070763
Chicago/Turabian StyleYang, Fazhan, Quan Song, Yuhuan Li, Sen Chu, Baogang Li, and Shuo Zhao. 2025. "Design and Experimental Study of a Dual-Side-Disturbance-Facilitated Air-Suction Precision Seed Metering Device for Corn" Agriculture 15, no. 7: 763. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15070763
APA StyleYang, F., Song, Q., Li, Y., Chu, S., Li, B., & Zhao, S. (2025). Design and Experimental Study of a Dual-Side-Disturbance-Facilitated Air-Suction Precision Seed Metering Device for Corn. Agriculture, 15(7), 763. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15070763