Effect and mechanism of drum axial airflow regulation on threshed-material distribution in rapeseed harvesting

Authors

  • Chengpeng li Nanjing Institute of Agricultural Mechanization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Nanjing 210014, China
  • Min Zhang Nanjing Institute of Agricultural Mechanization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Nanjing 210014, China
  • Gang Wang Nanjing Institute of Agricultural Mechanization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Nanjing 210014, China
  • Tao Jiang Nanjing Institute of Agricultural Mechanization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Nanjing 210014, China
  • Jiaqi Zhao Nanjing Institute of Agricultural Mechanization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Nanjing 210014, China
  • Yanru Bi Nanjing Institute of Agricultural Mechanization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Nanjing 210014, China

Keywords:

rapeseed harvesting, pneumatic-assisted separation, threshed material distribution, grain loss rate

Abstract

To address high cleaning losses caused by high impurity content and uneven distribution during rapeseed threshing, this study proposes a drum pneumatic-assisted threshing and separation method. Initially, by determining the suspension velocity characteristics of various threshed components, auxiliary blades were designed and integrated to construct a non-uniform gradient airflow field, generating a directional pneumatic transport effect. CFD simulations confirmed that this configuration induces a stable axial spiral airflow. Driven dynamically by this airflow, miscellaneous materials are guided to migrate orderly toward the rear of the concave screen, enabling active source-based regulation of the spatial-temporal flow behavior and component distribution. Multi-parameter correlation analysis indicated a significant negative correlation (coefficient = –0.88) between axial airflow and the average impurity ratio. Field experiments demonstrated that at a feed rate of 2.8 kg/s with auxiliary blades, the grain loss rate was reduced to 3.7%, compared with 6.3% without auxiliary blades, corresponding to a 41.3% reduction. This research demonstrates that axial airflow can effectively regulate threshed material at the source, providing a novel approach for high-efficiency and low-loss threshing and cleaning.      

Keywords: rapeseed harvesting; pneumatic-assisted separation; threshed material distribution; grain loss rate

DOI: 10.25165/j.ijabe.20261903.10420

Citation: Li C P, Zhang M, Wang G, Jiang T, Zhao J Q, Bi Y R. Effect and mechanism of drum axial airflow regulation on threshed-material distribution in rapeseed harvesting. Int J Agric & Biol Eng, 2026; 19(3): 180–190.

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Published

2026-07-14

How to Cite

(1)
li, C.; Zhang, M.; Wang, G.; Jiang , T.; Zhao, J.; Bi, Y. Effect and Mechanism of Drum Axial Airflow Regulation on Threshed-Material Distribution in Rapeseed Harvesting. Int J Agric & Biol Eng 2026, 19, 180–190.

Issue

Vol. 19 No. 3 (2026): IJABE

Section

Power and Machinery Systems

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Copyright (c) 2026 International Journal of Agricultural and Biological Engineering

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