Acta Agriculturae Zhejiangensis ›› 2025, Vol. 37 ›› Issue (12): 2615-2624.DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-1524.20241088

• Biosystems Engineering • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Simulation and experiment on pelleting coating performance of Codonopsis pilosula seeds

ZHU Gaoshuo1(), GAO Aimin1,*(), LI Baicheng2, LIU Kangkang1   

  1. 1. Mechanical and Electrical Engineering College, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
    2. National Seed Processing Equipment Engineering Technology Research Center, Lanzhou 730070, China
  • Received:2024-12-13 Online:2025-12-25 Published:2026-01-09

Abstract:

To investigate the effects of pelleting coating process parameters on the coating quality of ellipsoidal small Codonopsis pilosula seeds and improve their coating qualification rate, this study analyzed the contact process between seeds and coating pan using particle contact theory to determine the basic parameters of both components. A discrete element method (DEM) simulation model was established in EDEM software to simulate the interaction dynamics. Single-factor experiments were conducted to evaluate the influences of coating pan rotational speed, coating pan inclination angle, and water-powder ratio on coating qualification rate and coefficient of variation. Orthogonal experimental design was employed to develop a mathematical regression model with coating qualification rate as the response parameter. The primary and secondary factors affecting coating quality were indentified via analysis of variance (ANOVA), while interactions of factors were explored by response surface methodology (RSM). Results indicated that the influence of factors descended in the order as coating pan incination angle>coating pan rotational speed>water-powder ratio. The optimal parameters were determined based on the constructed regression model as coating pan rotational speed of 30.7 r·min-1, coating pan incination angle of 40.7°, and water-powder ratio of 0.85, achieving a coating qualification rate above 93%.

Key words: Codonopsis pilosula seeds, coating machine, pelletizing, small seed

CLC Number: