OPTIMIZATION OF THE STRUCTURE OF THE MILK POWDER CONVEYING DEVICE FOR CALF FEEDING EQUIPMENT BASED ON DISCRETE ELEMENT SIMULATION

In the intelligent transformation of global animal husbandry, precise calf feeding faces challenges like arching and flow fluctuations during milk replacer delivery, leading to inaccurate feeding, diarrhea and higher costs. This study aims to enhance the precision and stability of milk replacer delivery via structural innovation. Through shear tests, the internal friction angle of milk replacer was measured at 23.76° and the external friction angle at 23.97°. Combined with discrete element simulation and orthogonal experiments, the scraper conveyor device was optimized. A particle model of milk replacer was established using the discrete element method to analyze the effects of blade curvature, number of blades and guide plate tangent angle on conveying performance. Optimal parameters were determined through orthogonal experiments. Results showed that the guide plate tangent angle most significantly affected conveying rate, with peak efficiency at 45°. The number of blades was the main factor for operational stability, with 8 blades reducing delivery fluctuations. The optimal combination was found to be curved blades, 8 blades and a 45° guide plate tangent angle. Validation tests showed a stable conveying rate of 7.50 - 8.48 g/s, a standard deviation below 0.43 g, and operational stability of 71.80% - 75.96%, effectively solving arching and flow fluctuation issues. This study offers theoretical support for developing precise powder delivery equipment and core technological support for domestic smart feeding equipment. It directly helps reduce calf morbidity and improve ranch economic efficiency.