Vibrations in engineering and technology

Stepanenko Serhii, Senior Researcher, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Head of the Department of Mechanical and Technological Problems of Harvesting and Post-Harvest Processing of Grain and Oilseed Crops, Institute of Mechanics and Automation of Agro-Industrial Production, National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine, Hlevakha, Ukraine, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8331-4632, email: Stepanenko_s@ukr.net

Melnyk Vitaliy, postgraduate student of the department of mechanical and technological problems of harvesting and post-harvest processing of grain and oilseed crops, Institute of Mechanics and Automation of Agro-industrial Production of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine, Hlevakha, Ukraine ORCID iD 0009-0006-2383-9572

Volyk Daryna, PhD, Acting Senior Researcher of the department of mechanical and technological problems of harvesting and post-harvest processing of grain and oilseed crops, Institute of Mechanics and Automation of Agro-industrial Production of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine, Hlevakha, Ukraine ORCID iD 0009-0001-1979-861X email: volyk.d.a@gmail.com

Kuzmych Alvian, senior researcher, candidate of technical sciences, senior research fellow of the department of mechanical and technological problems of harvesting and post-harvest processing of grain and oilseed crops, Institute of Mechanics and Automation of Agro-industrial Production of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine, Hlevakha, Ukraine, https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3102-0840, email: akuzmich75@gmail.com

The article presents the results of experimental studies of the separation process of grain materials in a pneumocentrifugal separator. The relevance of the study is determined by the need to improve the efficiency of cleaning and fractionation of grain mixtures based on their aerodynamic properties through the simultaneous use of airflow and centrifugal forces. The combination of pneumatic and centrifugal separation principles makes it possible to intensify particle movement in the working zone, ensure their differentiated movement depending on their physical, mechanical, and aerodynamic properties, and improve the controllability of the separation process.

The aim of the study is to experimentally establish the regularities of the grain material separation process in a pneumocentrifugal separator and to determine the effect of the main design, technological, and operating parameters on the qualitative and quantitative performance indicators of its operation. Experimental studies were conducted using a laboratory-scale pneumocentrifugal separator, with the main technological parameters of the process determined under different operating conditions. During the experiments, the parameters governing the kinematic interaction of the grain material with the working surface and airflow were varied. The process efficiency was evaluated based on the yield of individual fractions, their degree of purity, the completeness of removal of mixture components, and losses of sound grain.

The nature of changes in the technological parameters depending on the operating conditions of the pneumocentrifugal separator was established. It was shown that changes in airflow velocity and the kinematic parameters of the working element significantly affect particle trajectories, their residence time in the separation zone, and the conditions under which grain mixture components enter the corresponding fractions. As the airflow regime changes, the ratio of aerodynamic, centrifugal, gravitational, and drag forces changes, determining the intensity and selectivity of the separation process.

Based on the experimental data, ranges of rational operating conditions of the separator were determined, under which the most favorable balance between separation efficiency, quality of the resulting fractions, and losses of sound grain is achieved. The results obtained can be used to substantiate the design and technological parameters of pneumocentrifugal separators, improve working elements and airflow control systems, and develop recommendations for the practical application of machines for cleaning and fractionating grain materials.

The scientific novelty of the study lies in establishing experimental regularities in the variation of grain material separation performance indicators depending on the main operating parameters of the pneumocentrifugal separator and determining their relationship with the quality of the resulting fractions. The practical significance of the results obtained lies in the possibility of using the established regularities to select rational operating conditions and further improve the design of pneumocentrifugal separators.

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