Abstract: A pressure gradient or differential in a product distribution line for conveying granular particulate material, including at least one of a seed or a fertilizer, in an air flow to an agricultural field consistently decreases as air speed and velocity in the product distribution line decreases until a critical air speed is reached. Below the critical air speed, the particulate material is susceptible to falling out of the air flow to potentially cause a blockage in the system. A control system efficiently determines an optimum operating velocity for an air flow that is above the critical air speed yet below a maximum air speed associated with inefficient operation. The control system retains the air flow setting in a data structure for later retrieval.

Abstract: A pressure gradient or differential in a product distribution line for conveying granular particulate material, including at least one of seed or fertilizer, in an air flow to an agricultural field consistently decreases as air speed and velocity in the product distribution line decreases until a critical air speed is reached. Below the critical air speed, the particulate material is susceptible to falling out of the air flow to cause a blockage in the system. A control system efficiently determines an optimum operating velocity for an air flow that is above the critical air speed yet below a maximum air speed associated with inefficient operation.

Abstract: A pressure gradient or differential in a product distribution line for conveying granular particulate material, including at least one of seed or fertilizer, in an air flow to an agricultural field consistently decreases as air speed and velocity in the product distribution line decreases until a critical air speed is reached. Below the critical air speed, the particulate material may become susceptible to falling out of the air flow to potentially cause a blockage in the system. Accordingly, pressure sensors arranged in the product distribution line can be used to generate an air flow at an optimum velocity above the critical air speed yet below a maximum air speed associated with inefficient operation. The air flow can be adjusted to maintain the optimum velocity despite changes in at least one of a type of particulate material or a rate at which the particulate material is metered.

Abstract: A pressure gradient or differential in a product distribution line for conveying granular particulate material, including at least one of seed or fertilizer, in an air flow to an agricultural field consistently decreases as air speed and velocity in the product distribution line decreases until a critical air speed is reached. Below the critical air speed, the particulate material is susceptible to falling out of the air flow to cause a blockage in the system. Pressure sensors arranged in the product distribution line are monitored for effectively controlling an air source producing the air flow. A diameter of the product distribution line increases between upstream and downstream locations for monitoring with greater sensitivity.

Abstract: The present inventors have recognized that a pressure gradient or differential in a product distribution line for conveying granular particulate material, such as seed or fertilizer, in an air flow to an agricultural field consistently decreases as air speed (velocity) in the product distribution line decreases until a critical air speed is reached. Below the critical air speed, the particulate material may become susceptible to falling out of the air flow to potentially cause a blockage in the system. Accordingly, pressure sensors arranged in the product distribution line can be used to generate an air flow at an optimum operating velocity above the critical air speed yet below a maximum air speed associated with inefficient operation. In one aspect, the air flow can be adjusted to maintain an optimum operating velocity despite changes in the type of particulate material and/or rate at which the particulate material is metered.

Abstract: The present inventors have recognized that a pressure gradient or differential in a product distribution line for conveying granular particulate material, such as seed or fertilizer, in an air flow to an agricultural field consistently decreases as air speed (velocity) in the product distribution line decreases until a critical air speed is reached. Below the critical air speed, the particulate material may become susceptible to falling out of the air flow to potentially cause a blockage in the system. Accordingly, a control system can implement a process for efficiently determining an optimum operating velocity for an air flow that is above the critical air speed yet below a maximum air speed associated with inefficient operation. In one aspect, the optimum operating velocity can be stored as a value corresponding, for example, to the type of particulate material and/or rate at which the particulate material is metered for subsequent use.

Abstract: The present inventors have recognized that a pressure gradient or differential in a product distribution line for conveying granular particulate material, such as seed or fertilizer, in an air flow to an agricultural field consistently decreases as air speed (velocity) in the product distribution line decreases until a critical air speed is reached. Below the critical air speed, the particulate material may become susceptible to falling out of the air flow and potentially causing a blockage in the system. Accordingly, a control system can retrieve from a data structure a predetermined air flow setting indicating an optimum operating velocity above the critical air speed yet below a maximum air speed associated with inefficient operation. In one aspect, the predetermined air flow setting can be retrieved based on the type of particulate material and/or rate at which the particulate material is metered.

Abstract: The present inventors have recognized that a pressure gradient or differential in a product distribution line for conveying granular particulate material, such as seed or fertilizer, in an air flow to an agricultural field consistently decreases as air speed (velocity) in the product distribution line decreases until a critical air speed is reached. Below the critical air speed, the particulate material may become susceptible to falling out of the air flow to potentially cause a blockage in the system. Accordingly, pressure sensors arranged in the product distribution line can be monitored for effectively controlling an air source producing the air flow. In one aspect, a diameter of the product distribution line can increase between upstream and downstream locations for monitoring with even greater sensitivity.