Evaluation of buckwheat product properties for discrete element model (DEM) simulation

Abstract

The paper deals with various types of buckwheat products (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench), which have been determined with mechanical and physical properties in order to provide useful data for engineers to design structures of used equipment, harvesting and other processing technologies. Buckwheat is currently a well-sought-after food in the field of healthy nutrition, especially because of its high fiber content, iron and potassium. Among the tested samples were, for example, buckwheat hazelnuts, chips, flakes and others. In the above mentioned, the parameters of the linear dimensions, the Carrs index, the Hausner ratio and the flow rate were measured and compared. The influence of geometric parameters of buckwheat products was determined on mechanical and physical properties. The first results showed that the set parameters were statistically different for each type of buckwheat. On the basis of measured data, a simulation of the flow of a specific buckwheat sample was performed. The discrete element (DEM) method used for this purpose appears to be an appropriate tool for transporting these agricultural products.