1. Fertilizer Distribution for Strip-till Equipment Ben Feider, Tyson Meeks, Tim Miller

2. Prior Work (Kyle Gutknecht)  Features  16” vertical distribution band  Air compressor driven  10 individual channels  Balance flow rate between channels  Our use  Sleek packaging provided concept for final design  Provided venturi for air seeder simulation

3. Project Specifications  Can operate behind a 3/4 inch wide shank  Will pass application rates of 300 Lbs fertilizer/acre at 5 MPH travel speed  Can attach to common air seeder outputs  Can withstand subsoil environment  Costs less than $300 per unit for production  Distributes fertilizer on 4-6 inch vertical band  Distribution between ports of ±5% of mean  Attaches to tillage shanks in under 10 minutes

4. Deliverables  Oral concept review (7/06)  Mid project report (8/06)  Detailed design review (today)  Final Proof of Concept (10/15)  Field prototype (11/1)  Project Website (ongoing updates)  Design Snapshot (12/1)  Final project report (12/15)

5. Prototype 1 – Manifolding  Lessons Learned  Prototyping with wood and plexiglass is very quick  Diffuser/manifold concept has potential  Short diffuser caused reverse flow on edges  Flat areas made unpredictable flow patterns

6. Prototype 2 – Diffuser  Lessons Learned  Fewer plugged holes with new manifold and diffuser  Upstream flow patterns caused uneven particle input  Air measurements needed to judge flow balancing

7. Prototype 3  2 Different Modules for conditioning incoming air/particle mixture  Physical Randomizer (Plinko) above diffuser  Flow straightener below venturi

8. Prototype 3 - Features  Plinko  Two banks for thorough mixing  Removable pins to test best configuration  Flow straightener  Large diameter tubes to allow particle passage

9. Prototype 3 - Test Results

10. Next Prototype  Convert manifold and diffuser to 1X6 geometry  Merge plinko and diffuser to one piece  Take individual air flow measurements  Numerically evaluate air seeder simulation  Test effect of different length hoses on air flow

11. Test Plan Venturi Nozzle Diffuser Manifold Individual Tubes Hot Wire Anemometer Mass Balance Pressure Gauge Hot Wire Anemometer

12. Performance Testing  Determine effect of various flow rates on distribution  Determine effect of small tube length on distribution  Is fertilizer variation <10% across depth?

13. Field Prototype

14. Manufacturing Plan  Single Test Unit  CNC Mill distributor in plastic  Weld plates together for shroud  Bend or weld strap for connector  Mass Production  Mold two halves of distributor  Bend shroud from large stock  Bend strap for connector