Parameters of the seed output device of the ergot isolation machine

Abstract

Grains of rye, wheat, barley and oats are often infected with poisonous ergot fungi. Therefore, it is necessary to clean the grain from harmful impurities. Modern machines do not provide the isolation of ergot sclerotia from grain due to the closeness of their properties in terms of air flow rate and linear dimensions. Cleaning seeds from ergot sclerotia, which have a density lower than the density of the grain, is possible in an aqueous solution of salt. When developing such a machine, research is required to study the residence time of grain in an aqueous salt solution. Grains are considered in the form of a transverse cylinder and an elongated ellipsoid of rotation with numerical values of the parameters: density ρz = 1.2…1.5∙103 kg/m3, length lz = 5.0…10.0∙10-3 m, width b = 1.4…3.6∙10-3 m and thickness δ = 1.2…3.5∙10-3 m. Theoretical studies were carried out on the basis of methods of mathematical modeling, classical mechanics using the laws of hydrodynamics. It was found that when using in the machine for the isolation of toxic ergot sclerotia from the grain of an aqueous solution of salt with a density ρzh = 1000…1150 kg/m3 and a height h1 = 0.35…0.60 m in a bath, the total time ttotal of seeds residence varies within 7.6…18.8 s. During this time, the seeds are moistened superficially, to eliminate which it is enough to blow them under the pressure of atmospheric air.