Numerical-experimental comparison of radial fans applied in pneumatic transport of agricultural fertilizer spreaders

ABSTRACT This study presents a numerical and experimental comparison of two different types radial fans used in an agricultural fertilizer spreader at rotation 4000 rpm. The analysis was validated through experiments conducted on test bench using hot-wire anemometer for velocity measurements Pitot tube pressure readings. A simulation the carried out after validation mathematical models to evaluate air distribution behavior along application nozzles, which compared results. turbulent mean-field obtained Reynolds Averaged Navier Stokes (RANS) k-Epsilon turbulence model equations. computational fluid dynamics software CFX 18.1 solve transport Unstructured tetrahedral meshes generated by ICEM CFD were all models. applied method is adequate able reproduce fluid-dynamic airflow pneumatic systems spreaders, avoiding need prototypes.