The Study of Effective Parameters in Pneumatic Transfer on Quality Properties of Corn Seeds

Mechanical damage in grains and seeds during harvesting, trashing and transporting stages affects germination seed vigor seriously as well as ultimately affects the quality of the product. The general objective of this study was to investigate the effect of parameters of pneumatic transfer (transfer velocity, path length and mass flow rate) on quality properties of corn seeds (germination percentage, seed vigor, germination speed, mass loss and electrical conductivity). At the first time, a dilute phase pneumatic conveyor was constructed. Then, corn transfer an experiment was performing at different levels of pipe length (1, 2 and 3 m), inlet air velocity (13, 17 and 20 m/s) and mass flow rate (200, 250 and 300 kg/h). The experimental design was factorial based on completely randomized design. The results of the experiments showed that with increasing pipe length and mass flow rate, the percentage of germination decreased significantly (p≤0.01). The interaction of length, velocity and mass flow rate on seed vigor was significant (p≤0.01). The highest seed vigor index was obtained at a 1m length of pipe, 13 m / s velosity and mass flow rate of 300 kg / h ; and the lowest seed vigor index at 3 m of length, 13 m / s  vlocity and mass flow rate of 300 kg / h. The effect of pipe length on seed electrical conductivity was significant (p≤0.05), and other parametrs had no significant effect on the electrical conductivity of seed.