Optimizing Efficiency of Tea Harvester Leaf-Collection Pipeline: Numerical Simulation and Experimental Validation

Abstract

To address the challenges of missed and disorderly picking in tea harvesters, this study focused on the leaf-collection pipeline and utilized Fluent simulation 19.0 software. A single-factor test identified key parameters affecting airflow velocity. An orthogonal test evaluated the main pipe taper, number of branch pipes, and branch pipe outlet diameter, with average outlet wind speed and wind speed non-uniformity as indicators. The optimal parameters were a main pipe taper of 25.5 mm, 10 branch pipes, and an inner diameter of 17.10 mm for the outlet, resulting in 10.73 m/s average wind speed and 8.24% non-uniformity. Validation tests showed errors under 1%. Further optimization on the internal structure’s extension length led to 11.02 m/s average wind speed and 8.04% non-uniformity. Field experiments demonstrated a 3.40% stalk leakage rate and 90.36% bud leaf integrity rate; the optimized structure of the leaf-collecting pipeline significantly improved the uniformity of airflow and the picking efficiency. These findings offer valuable insights and practical benefits for enhancing the efficiency of tea harvesters.

Keywords

• leaf-collecting pipeline
• airflow uniformity
• structural optimization
• numerical simulation
• tea harvester