Possibilities of buckwheat grain classification in the air flow

Abstract

The investigation of the sorting of buckwheat grains “Smuglianka” with the air flow has been fulfilled in the laboratory of the Machine department of Lithuanian Agricultural University. The main goal of the tests was to investigate the possibility to use air flow to sort the buckwheat grains by varying the buckwheat grain flow, the slanting air flow rate and angle, and to determine the rational parameters for the buckwheat grain grading. The tests have been executed using the method adopted by the Agricultural machinery department. The critical rate of the buckwheat grains has been determined prior to the buckwheat grain sorting tests using the air flow. Analyzing the test results 1000 grain mass of the buckwheat collected in the individual boxes has been estimated. The tests defined that average critical rate of the buckwheat grains “Smuglianka” was (vk.vid =8.96 m s-1), and the flight coefficient was 0.33. To sort the buckwheat grains with air flow its rate should not exceed 0.9 kg.(m.s)-1, the recommended air flow rate is approximately 10 m.s-1, the impact of the air flow angle is insignificant. Suitable selection of the parameters of buckwheat grains and air flow makes it possible to use the air flow for buckwheat grain grading, and to use the seeds blown into the first two boxes for the sowing.