• Journal of Drive and Control
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.16-25
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• 2022

The purpose of this study was to calculate and analyze the engine load factor of major agricultural operations using a 78 kW class agricultural tractor for estimating the emission of air pollutants and greenhouse. Engine load data were collected using controller area network (CAN) communication. Main agricultural operations were selected as plow tillage (PT), rotary tillage (RT), baler operation (BO), loader operation (LO), driving on soil (DS), and driving on concrete (DC). The engine power was calculated using the measured engine load data. A weight factor was applied to load factor for considering usage ratio according to agricultural operations. Weight factors for different agricultural operations were calculated to be 27.4%, 32.9%, 17.5%, 7.7%, 4.5%, and 10.0% for PT, RT, BO, LO, DS, and DC, respectively. As a result of the field test, load factors were 0.74, 0.93, 0.41, 0.23, 0.27, and 0.21 for PT, RT, BO, LO, DS, and DC, respectively. The engine load factor was the highest for RT. Finally, as a result of applying the weight factor for usage ratio of agricultural operations, the integrated engine load factor was estimated to be 0.63, which was about 1.31 times higher than the conventional applied load factor of 0.48. In future studies, we plan to analyze the engine load factor by considering various horsepower and working conditions of the tractor.

• Journal of Drive and Control
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.9-18
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of the soil cone index (CI) on the tractor work load. A load measurement system was constructed for measuring the field data. The field sites were divided into grids (3×3 m), and the cone index was measured at the center of each grid. The work load measured through the plow tillage was matched with the soil cone index. The matched data were grouped at 600 kPa intervals based on the cone index. The work load according to the cone index was analyzed for engine, axle, and traction load, respectively. The results showed that when the cone index increased, engine torque decreased by up to 9%, and the engine rotational speed and brake-specific fuel consumption increased by up to 5% and 3%, respectively. As the cone index increased, the traction and tillage depth were inversely proportional to the cone index, decreasing 7% and 18%, respectively and the traction and tillage depth were directly proportional to the cone index, increasing 13% and 12%, respectively. Thus, it was found that the cone index had a major influence on the engine, axle, and traction loads of the tractor.

• Journal of Drive and Control
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.133-140
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• 2020

Traction performance of a tractor varies depending on soil conditions. Sinkage and slip of the driving wheel for tractor frequently occur in a reclaimed land. The objective of this study was to develop a tractor suitable for a reclaimed land. Traction performance was evaluated according to soil conditions of reclaimed land and paddy field. Field experiments were conducted at two test sites (Fields A: paddy field; and Field B: reclaimed land). The tractor load measurement system was composed of an axle rotation speed sensor, a torque meter, a six-component load cell, GPS, and a DAQ (Data Acquisition System). Soil properties including soil texture, water content, cone index, and electrical conductivity (EC) were measured. Referring to previous researches, the tractor traveling speed was set to B3 (7.05 km/h), which was frequently used in ridge plow tillage. Soil moisture contents were 33.2% and 48.6% in fields A and B, respectively. Cone index was 2.1 times higher in field A than in field B. When working in the reclaimed land, slip ratios were about 10.5% and 33.1% for fields A and B, respectively. The engine load was used almost 100% of all tractors under the two field conditions. Traction powers were 31.9 kW and 24.2 kW for fields A and B, respectively. Tractive efficiencies were 83.3% and 54.4% for fields A and B, respectively. As soil moisture increased by 16.4%, the tractive efficiency was lowered by about 28.9%. Traction performance of tractor was significantly different according to soil conditions of fields A and B. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the traction performance of tractor for smooth operations in all soil conditions including a reclaimed land by reflecting data of this study.