Numerical Analysis of Cleaning Wind in a Winnowing Chamber Using the Finite Volume Method

Abstract

In order to improve the cleaning accuracy, it is necessary to investigate the flying characteristics of grain and MOG (material other than grain), and also necessary to control appropriate wind velocity for cleaning function. Especially, understanding the distribution of wind vectors in the cleaning chamber is important for improving the cleaning. In this study, a fluid dynamics model in a simplified winnower was constructed, and numerical analysis was conducted using finite volume method (FVM) for clarifying the distribution, and attempted to generate visualization of the wind vectors in the simplified model as wind tunnel. In the analysis, the wind was assumed steady two-dimensional laminar flow. The obtained results were compared with results of particle image velocimetry (PIV) and conventional measurement method using anemometer. The validity of this method was clarifyied by the obtained results.