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

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.

Study on the improvement of the device for cleaning low-grade cotton with high- moisture

This article analyzes the importance of the process of ginning cotton with high pollution before ginning, the operation of the ginning device before ginning, the impact of the device nodes with the raw cotton. At the same time, the cleaning efficiency of the machine in the cleaning equipment from small and large contaminants, the basic control developments and calculation processes in the selection of the technological parameters of the cleaners are considered. It was suggested and analyzed that before the cotton was ginned, the cleaning device should be replaced with cone-tipped piles and a new belt extension to remove impurities instead of fine-grained drum piles. The impact strength and impact of the proposed conical-tipped pile drums on cotton have been studied.

Optimization Design and Experiment of Ear-Picking and Threshing Devices of Corn Plot Kernel Harvester

In order to solve the problems of easy-to-break kernels and substantial harvest losses during kernel harvesting in breeding trials plot of corn, an ear-picking device and a threshing device of corn plot kernel harvester has been optimized. To automatically change the gap of the ear-picking plate, a self-elastic structure with compression spring and connecting rod is used. The ear-picking plate is glued, and an elastic rubber gasket is placed underneath it, which effectively improves the adaptability of the ear-picking device and reduces corn kernel collision damage during ear-picking. To ensure the self-purification of the ear-picking device, a combination of auger sieve hole cleaning device and lateral pneumatic auxiliary cleaning system is used. A dual-axial flow threshing device is designed, which uses a “U”-shaped conveying system to transport maize ears in the threshing chamber. The spacing of the concave sieve may be adjusted, and the residual kernels in the threshing chamber can be cleaned up after harvesting one plot by combining three cleanings, which meets the requirements of no mixing between plots. The force analysis of corn ears in the threshing chamber determines the best design plan for the forward speed, the speed of the second threshing drum, and the threshing gap. The breakage rate and non-threshing rate regression models were created using the quadratic regression orthogonal combination test, and the parameters were optimized using MATLAB. The verification test results showed that when the forward speed was 0.61 m/s, the second threshing drum speed was 500 r/min, and the threshing gap was 40 mm, the breakage rate was 1.47%, and the non-threshing rate was 0.89%, which met the kernel harvesting requirements in corn plots.

Evaluation of the Bioaerosol Inactivation Ability of Chitosan-Coated Antimicrobial Filters

This work considers the enhancement of indoor bioaerosol removal efficiency by liquid coating of the antimicrobial agent chitosan onto polypropylene fibrous filters (CCFs). Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis) were chosen as the tested bioaerosols. The results revealed that 2.5% (w/w) of CCFs have significantly higher bioaerosol survival capability (23% and 34% of E. coli and B. subtilis, respectively), compared to an untreated filter (65% and 64% for E. coli and B. subtilis, respectively). Increasing face velocity and relative humidity during operating CCFs could reduce the bioaerosol removal capability. The regression analysis of the experimental findings demonstrated that the higher coating concentration of chitosan had the most positive influence on bioaerosol removal, while the face velocity and relative humidity had a negative influence, but a milder effect was observed (R2 = 0.83 and 0.81 for E. coli and B. subtilis bioaerosols, respectively). A CCF-loaded air-cleaning device was tested in a real indoor environment and resulted in 80.1% bioaerosol removal within 3 h of operating, which suggests that the chitosan-coated filter has the potential for further application in improving indoor air quality in the future.

Peculiarities of the operation of the oil pipeline in the process of its cleaning from paraffin deposition

Purpose: Improving the technology of cleaning the inner surface of the main oil pipelines from paraffin deposition by specifying the hydrodynamic parameters of the movement of the cleaning device in the cavity of the pipeline, by more accurate prediction of the time of its approach to the final point of purification. Design/methodology/approach: Performing theoretical researches and application of mathematical modelling methods in order to establish the regularities of the cleaning device movement in the oil pipeline. Findings: Regularities of changes in the capacity of the pipeline, the speed of the cleaning process, the specific energy consumption for oil transportation as a function of the linear coordinates of the place and time of the cleaning device movement in the pipeline were established. Research limitations/implications: The next stage of research is to establish the influence of the characteristics of the viscoplastic fluid of the paraffin plug on the additional resistance and the mode of the cleaning device movement in the pipeline. Practical implications: It was developed the method that allows predicting the capacity and energy efficiency of the pipeline operation for each point in time of the process of cleaning from paraffin deposition. Originality/value: The originality of the method is the taking into account the additional hydraulic resistance of the paraffin plug and the available energy resources of oil pumping stations on the hydrodynamic process of moving the cleaning device in the oil pipeline.

Performance Analysis of Urban Cleaning Devices Using Human–Machine Interaction Method

Presently, several jobs require the collaboration of humans and machines to perform different services and tasks. The ease and intuitiveness of the worker when using each machine will not only improve the worker’s experience but also improve the company’s productivity and the satisfaction that all users have. Specifically, electromechanical devices used to provide cleaning services require complex interactions. These interactions determine the usability and performance of devices. Therefore, devices must have appropriate ergonomic arrangements for human–machine interactions. Otherwise, the desired performance cannot be achieved. This study analyzes the performance of an urban cleaning device (pressure washer on a power take-off van) using human–machine interaction method. The method measures visceral and behavioral levels (set by Norman) and service times. Using these measurements, the usability of the pressure washer is determined according to different factors that facilitate the operator’s well-being in the working environment. A pressure washer from Feniks Cleaning and Safety, Limited Company, has been studied. Sixteen errors related to ergonomics, usability and safety were identified in this machine, which operates in more than 40 locations in Spain. Therefore, this study provides valuable information on the usability and performance of pressure washers, as well as possibilities for improvement.