Design optimization and aerodynamic investigations of air suction seed metering systems through CFD-DEM approach

Hussain S, Chen Y, Yu X, Farid MU, Ghafoor A, Alshamali SJ, Munir T, Hu J (2025)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2025

Book Volume: 12

Article Number: 101082

DOI: 10.1016/j.atech.2025.101082

Abstract

The current study focuses on the design optimization of air-suction seed metering devices for precision agriculture. The effect of vacuum pressure, suction hole diameter, and seed disk speed on the performance of a metering system for corn precision seeder was investigated using the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) approach. The key parameters were modeled and optimized using both single-factor analysis and response surface methodology. The results highlighted the critical role of suction holes in generating rapid pressure drops, facilitating efficient seed pickup and adhesion. The velocity and pressure contours indicated that well-optimized settings ensure stable suction, smooth airflow, and accurate seed handling. The optimal parameter combination comprising vacuum pressure of 3 kPa, suction hole diameter of 4 mm, and seed disk rotation speed of 30 RPM achieved the maximum pressure difference and improved system stability. This combination was further validated using CFD-DEM coupling for a single seed. The analysis revealed that the proposed design not only minimizes seed-to-seed interference but also improves precise seeding. The study optimized the air-suction precision seeder by conducting a single-factor analysis to determine the optimal ranges for vacuum pressure, operating speed, and suction hole diameter. The orthogonal factor testing further refined the parameters, resulting in a 3.5 kPa vacuum pressure, 7 km/h operating speed, and a 4 mm suction hole diameter as the optimal combination. The bench test results confirmed the accuracy of the optimization with M1 = 95.98%, M2 = 1.5%, and M3 = 2.52%. This research provides a foundation and strong justification for improving air-suction seed metering systems, thereby significantly enhancing precision seeder efficiency and crop productivity.

Authors with CRIS profile

Muhammad Usman Farid Lehrstuhl für Interfaces und Partikeltechnologie (LFG)

Involved external institutions

Henan Agricultural University / 河南农业大学 CN China (CN) Yellow River Institute of Hydraulic Research / 黄河水文水资源科学研究院 CN China (CN) University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) PK Pakistan (PK) Homs University / جَامِعَة حِمْص SY Syrian Arab Republic (SY) Jiangsu University / 江苏大学 CN China (CN)

How to cite

APA:

Hussain, S., Chen, Y., Yu, X., Farid, M.U., Ghafoor, A., Alshamali, S.J.,... Hu, J. (2025). Design optimization and aerodynamic investigations of air suction seed metering systems through CFD-DEM approach. , 12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atech.2025.101082

MLA:

Hussain, Saddam, et al. "Design optimization and aerodynamic investigations of air suction seed metering systems through CFD-DEM approach." 12 (2025).

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