Results of Numerical Modeling of the Process of Harvesting the Seeds of Flax by a Harvester of the Stripping Type

The purpose of the current theoretical study is to improve the efficiency of the technological process of harvesting flax seeds with a harvester of the stripping type by substantiating its structural-operational parameters. The goal has been accomplished by constructing an appropriate physical-mathematical model that takes into consideration the technological parameters for operation of the harvester, as well as the physical-mechanical properties of a flax pile. The theoretical study has been performed by means of numerical simulation using the software suite STAR-CCM+. The physical-mathematical apparatus is based on the k-ɛ conjugated flow turbulence model, a van der Waals model of real gas, averaging by Reynolds, a Navier-Stokes equation, a Lagrangian multiphase model, and a discrete element model.The undertaken theoretical research has established the effect of structural-technological parameters of the stripping-type harvester on the quality of the process in its region when harvesting flax by direct harvesting when stripping plants at the root. It has been proven that the course of the process is substantially affected by an air flow resulting from the operation of a beat-reflector and a harvester's stripping rotor. The result of numerical modeling of the process of separating a flax pile in the stripping-type harvester is the derived distribution of an airflow in its region. We have determined the dependences of maximum speed of an airflow on the rotation frequency of the beat-reflector and stripping rotor. The maximal air flow speed is V Vmax=30 m/s, predetermined by the rotation frequency of the beat-reflector and stripping rotor: n1=n2=800 rpm. We have substantiated the position of an air grid and approximated the shape of the casing. The following rational structural-technological parameters have been obtained, which contribute to improving the quality of the process of pile separation: the rotation frequency of beat-reflector n1=782 rpm, the rotation frequency of stripping rotor n2=671 rpm, the position of a transparent zone border L=0.82 m and its width B=0.45 m. The constructed physical-mathematical models allow targeted control over the operational parameters of the stripping-type harvester in the process of harvesting flax seeds