Precision Agriculture

, Volume 12, Issue 5, pp 732–749 | Cite as

A dynamic grain flow model for a mass flow yield sensor on a combine

  • Ryan Reinke
  • Harry Dankowicz
  • Jim Phelan
  • Wonmo Kang
Article
First Online:

Abstract

A model is developed to describe the flow of grain through a clean grain elevator system on a combine in order to facilitate accurate mass flow rate estimation. The relationship between mass flow rate and impact force described by the model depends upon machine operational characteristics, mechanical interactions of the grain and the machine geometry, and material properties of the grain. The model was designed to be adaptable to varying grain conditions, such as those influenced by moisture content, by allowing free parameters of the model to be estimated through a nonlinear regression algorithm. Simulations were performed using discrete element modeling software and data was obtained from experiments conducted on a clean grain elevator system at the University of Kentucky Combine Yield Monitor Test Facility to determine the ability of the model to accurately estimate mass flow rate. The model estimated mass flow rate with a normalized root mean squared residual (NRMSR) less than 2% for discrete element modeling simulations. For experiments involving machine components, NRMSR values were less than 3% for corn at 14% moisture, less than 3% for corn at 21% moisture, and less than 5% for corn at 26% moisture.

Keywords

Flow sensor Impact plate Nonlinear regression Discrete element modeling Experiments 
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Notes

Acknowledgment

This material is based on work supported by a grant from Deere & Co.

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Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2011

Authors and Affiliations

  • Ryan Reinke
    • 1
  • Harry Dankowicz
    • 1
  • Jim Phelan
    • 2
  • Wonmo Kang
    • 1
  1. 1.Department of Mechanical Science and EngineeringUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignUrbanaUSA
  2. 2.John Deere Moline Technology Innovation CenterMolineUSA

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