Justification of design parameters of a unit for pre-sowing UHF-treatment of barley seeds

The paper presents studies substantiating the technology of barley seed treatment with mi-crowave electromagnetic radiation to improve the quality of seed grains. The aim of the work is to explain the design parameters of the experimental unit for pre-sowing UHF-treatment of barley seeds. The subject of the research is introduced by the design and technological parameters of the unit for pre-sowing UHF-treatment of grain, providing the increase in grain crop productivity. The methodology of the research is based on the system approach using the theoretical and experimental methods in laboratory conditions and working environment. The results of experiments on establishing plant rational design parameters for pre-sowing grain treatment which ensure uniform seed irradiation are presented. The multifactorial experiment made it possible to determine the optimal parameters of the discharge outlet gap, the angle between the eccentric weights, the angle of the conveyor bed, and the speed of the electric motor of the experimental unit, ensuring microwave treatment of seed grains in a fluidized bed. The conditions for keeping the grain material in the irradiation zone for 15 s at a throughput of the experimental vibrating conveyor of 55.95 kg/h are obtained. A field experiment confirmed an increase in seed germination up to 8% and in the yield of spring barley up to 11%. The introduction of the technology contributes to the growth of production of high-quality concentrated feed for all groups of animals. The suggested design and technological parameters and operating modes of the unit for UHF-treatment of grain can be used by the enterprises which develop and produce machines for pre-sowing treatment of grain seeds.