Zamrii M. Justification of the Parameters and Operating Modes of Equipment for Drying Alfalfa Seed Material

Zamrii M.A. Justification of the Parameters and Operating Modes of Equipment for Drying Alfalfa Seed Material. – Qualifying scientific work on the rights of the manuscript. Qualification scientific work with the manuscript copyright. Dissertation for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the field of knowledge 13 Mechanical Engineering, specialty 133 Industrial Machinery Engineering. Vinnytsia National Agrarian University, Vinnytsia, 2025. The dissertation solves a new scientific problem of increasing the technological efficiency of the process of drying alfalfa seed mass without separating the leaf-stem mass by developing a design and substantiating of rational parameters and operating modes of the drying equipment. The introduction substantiates the relevance of the topic, formulates the goal and objectives of the research for its implementation. The scientific novelty, practical significance of the obtained results are described and the personal contribution of the applicant to the conducted research is given. Information on the testing and publication of the results of the scientific research, the structure and scope of the dissertation research are provided. The purpose of the research is to increase the efficiency of the drying process of alfalfa seed mass by substantiating the parameters and operating modes of the drying unit. The implementation of this goal involves the scientific solution of the following tasks: 1. To develop a diagram of a drying plant, based on the analysis of the known technologies and equipment for drying alfalfa seed mass, 2. At the analytical level, to investigate the technological process of drying alfalfa seed mass in a multilayer space without separating the leaf-stem mass: - to develop mathematical models that describe the functional change in the constant and decreasing drying rate of alfalfa seed mass depending on the process parameters; - to develop dependencies for determining the time and specific air flow rate in the drying process of alfalfa seed mass depending on the parameters of the coolant; - to investigate the functional change in air resistance in the layer of alfalfa seed mass depending on the parameters of the drying process. 3. To conduct laboratory experimental studies to determine the physical and mechanical characteristics and thermophysical properties of alfalfa seed mass. 4.To develop empirical models that describe the functional change in: - moisture content in the alfalfa seed mass layer depending on the change in layer height and drying time; - air pressure losses in the alfalfa seed mass layer depending on the change in layer height, air flow velocity, layer porosity coefficient; - drying rate of alfalfa seed mass depending on the change in layer height, air flow velocity. 5. To verify in production conditions the results of the experimental research on drying equipment and determine the effectiveness of its use. The object of the research is the technological process of drying alfalfa seed mass in a drying unit. The subject of the research is the regularities of the influence of the operating modes of the drying unit on the kinetics of drying of alfalfa seed mass.