Pre-Sowing Seed Treatment in Electric Aerosol Cloud

Abstract The efficiency of the existing technologies for pre-sowing seed treat-ment, ensuring the high quality of seed material along with its proper clearing and sorting, has been analysed. One effective solution is the introduction of electrical technologies, the complexity of which lies in the scientific sophistication and the variety of tasks they address. The authors propose an electrotechnological complex (ETC) for pre-sowing seed treatment, which includes a working chamber, where charged grain is fed, while aerosol is delivered through adjustable sprinklers directed toward the seed flow, allowing for control over the spray stroke length. When the freely falling charged seeds enter the cloud of oppositely charged aerosol, they become intensively coated with the working solution. The degree of coverage depends on the length of the working chamber, the potential difference between the grain flow and the sprinklers, and the concentration of the aerosol cloud. Given the relative complexity of the process and the presence of multiple disturbances, optimisation can only be achieved through automation. The main objective of the paper is to study the stability and functional quality of the automated ETC for pre-sowing grain treatment with aerosol. To achieve this, a structural and functional algorithmic scheme has been developed, outlining the composition of its elements, signal direction, and the functional purpose of each component. This scheme facilitated the development of a system simulation model. The paper presents calculated results for key performance indicators of the ETC, with values aligning with those typical for this class of systems. A key advantage of this research is the proposed system for optimal correlation of all element characteristics and parameters of the automated object, ensuring stability and high performance.