• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.208-214
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• 2013

Purpose: Performances of a tractor diesel engine fueled by three different animal fats biodiesels were evaluated comparing with light oil tractor in terms of power, fuel consumption rate, exhaust gases, particulate matter amount and field work capacity. Methods: Animal fats based on pig biodiesel were manufactured manually and tested for its engine performance in the tractor diesel engine and fuel adoptability in the field works. Four different fuels, three different content of biodiesel (BD20, BD50, BD100) and light oil, were prepared and tested in the four strokes diesel engine. Power output, fuel consumption rate and exhaust gases of the four fuels in the diesel engine were compared and discussed. Results: Power output of light oil engine was the greatest showing 5.3% difference between light oil and BD100, but 0.37% better power than BD20 engine power. Less exhaust gases of $CO_2$, CO, $NO_X$ and THC were produced from animal fats biodiesel than light oil, which confirmed that biodiesel is environmental friendly fuel. For fuel adoptability in the tractor, biodiesel engine tractor showed its fuel competitiveness comparing with light oil for tractor works in the faddy field. Conclusions: With four different fuel types of animal-fats biodiesel, performances of a four cylinder diesel engine for tractor were evaluated in terms of power, exhaust gases, particulate matters (PM) and field work capacity. No significant differences observed in the engine performances including power output and exhaust gases emission rate. No significant power difference observed between the various fuels including light oil on the engine running, however, amounts of noxious exhaust gases including $CO_2$ and $NO_X$ decreased as biodiesel content increased in the fuels. Field performances of animal-fats biodiesel tractor were investigated by conducting plowing and rotary operation in the field. Tilling and rotary performance of light oil tractor and BD20 tractor in the field were compared, in which about 10% travelling speed difference on both operations were monitored that showed light oil tractor was superior to BD20 tractor by 10%. Animal-fats can be an alternative fuel source replacing light oil for agricultural machinery and an environmental friendly fuel to nature.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.171-179
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• 2013

Purpose: A simulator for the design and performance evaluation of a tractor with a hydro-mechanical transmission (HMT) was developed. Methods: The HMT consists of a hydro-static unit (HSU), a swash plate control system, and a planetary gear. It was modeled considering the input/output relationship of the torque and speed, and efficiency of HSU. Furthermore, a dynamic model of a tractor was developed considering the traction force, running resistance, and PTO (power take off) output power, and a tractor performance simulator was developed in the co-simulation environment of AMESim and MATLAB/Simulink. Results: The behaviors of the design parameters of the HMT tractor in the working and driving modes were investigated as follows; For the stepwise change of the drawbar load in the working mode, the tractor and engine speeds were maintained at the desired values by the engine torque and HSU stroke control. In the driving mode, the tractor followed the desired speed through the control of the engine torque and HSU stroke. In this case, the engine operated near the OOL (optimal operating line) for the minimum fuel consumption within the shift range of HMT. Conclusions: A simulator for the HMT tractor was developed. The simulations were conducted under two operation conditions. It was found that the tractor speed and the engine speed are maintained at the desired values through the control of the engine torque and the HSU stroke.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.305-316
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• 1993

Fuel efficiency in tractor operations dep6nds on the selection of transmission gears and upon the engine being operated at or near maximum torque much of time. The objective of this study was to develop automatic control systems for tractor transmission ratio and governor setting so that the engine is operated at or near maximum torque as much of time as possible. An indoor test unit, which can be used to simulate tractor operation, was built in order to investigate the system design parameters and test the performance of the control system designed. The test-unit consists of engine, gear-type transmission, dynamometer, and control systems for transmission ratio and engine speed. Governor setting lever was controlled by a step motor, and the clutch and transmission levers were controlled by hydraulic cylinders and solenoid valves. The control systems showed good time responses which are assumed to be suitable for optimal tractor operation. The time required for shifting gears from clutch disengagement to engagement was about 1 second, which is almost the same as that for manual shift. And the settling time for engine speed control system was about 5 to 6 seconds.

• Journal of Drive and Control
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.54-61
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• 2022

This is a basic study analyzing emissions of an agricultural tractor during tillage operations. In this study, CO, THC, NOx, and PM considered as emission factor were analyzed during plow and rotary tillage operation by the tractor. Engine torque and rotational speed were measured through ECU. Engine power was calculated using engine torque and rotational speed. The emissions was calculated based on the number of units, rated power, load factor, and operating time. Results showed that the load factor was calculated almost twice, which was higher than 0.48. It was also observed that the emission of the tractor was variable for different agricultural operations because tractor loads were different based on operations. There was a difference in emissions due to differences in plow and rotary working hours. To estimate the emission of agricultural tractor based field operations in detail, it is necessary to consider TAF (Transient Adjustment Factor) and DFA (Deterioration factor). In the future, TAF and DFA will be considered to estimate emissions of the agricultural tractor. Finally, results of this study can contribute to the literature to estimate tractor emissions accurately.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.291-300
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• 1994

It is desired to operate tractor engines at or near maximum torque much of the time in field operation to increase fuel efficiency. To do this it is necessary to reduce engine speed and to shift gears to higher ratios as frequently as possible. Because of load variations in most drawbar work and inconvenience in gear shift, however, gear-type transmission are usually set in one ratio at unnecessarily high engine speeds, and engine-torque variations are used to compensate for changes in drawbar load. As a result, the most of time the tractor is not operated efficiently in terms of fuel consumption and work output. The objective of this study was to develop an automatic control system which is able to operate a tractor equipped with gear transmission under the optimal condition in terms of fuel efficiency with automatic governor setting and gear shift. An indoor experimental test set which can be used to simulate tractor operation, control engine speed and transmission ratio was developed in the previous paper. In this paper, the performance of the optimal operation system is reported. Through a series of tests, it was found that the automatic control system for optimal operation of tractors with gear transmission had a satisfactory performance.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.151-157
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• 2010

The objective of this study was to analyze the factors affecting on fuel consumption of agricultural tractor. According to the statistical analysis, fuel consumption of agricultural tractor was considerably influenced by kind of operation, throttle engine speed and gear steps of tractor but much less by kind of soil. Specific fuel consumption of the tractor in plowing, dry paddy tilling, wet paddy tilling and wet paddy levelling was 0.33~0.36, 0.30~0.45, 0.19~0.34, 0.28~0.39 L/$kW{\cdot}h$, respectively, and $CO_2$ emission was 0.36~0.45, 0.35~0.58, 0.22~0.42, 0.24~0.37 kg/$kW{\cdot}h$, respectively. Specific fuel consumption and $CO_2$ emission increased as throttle engine speed increased but reversely proportional with gear step of tractor, by which one can reduce fuel consumption and $CO_2$ emission with practicing of "Gear up & Throttle Down" technique in paddy operations.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.479-490
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• 2002

A dynamic model of a power shuttle transmission was developed and its validity was verified using the experimental data obtained from a transmission test bench. A 40㎾, 4WD tractor was also modeled using an application software EASY5 to investigate parameters and their effects on the power shifting performance. For a tractor model, the manual reverse gear was replaced by a power shuttle transmission. The tractor model also included an engine, main-gears for transmission, wheels, differentials and planet gears. Using the tractor model, the effects of the parameters such as modulating pressure and time, engine speed, tractor speed. tractor weight. reverse to forward speed ratio and torsional damper on the transient characteristics at starting and shuttle shifting were investigated by the computer simulation. The transient characteristics were represented by variations in clutch pressure, torque transmitted to input shaft and driving wheels, and power transmission capacity of the clutch. It was found that the modulating pressure and time affected most significantly the torque transmission and shifting time. The input torque, axle torque, power transmission capacity of the clutch and transmission time all increased with increase in engine speed, tractor speed. tractor weight and ratio of reverse to forward speeds. However, the axle torque decreased with tractor speed. Both the axle torque and power transmission capacity of the clutch also decreased with the ratio of reverse to forward speeds.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.77-84
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• 2010

In this study, we tried to predict tractor power output, fuel consumption rate and work performance indirectly in order to develop an eco driving system. Firstly, we developed equations which could predict tractor power output and fuel consumption rate using characteristic curves of tractor power output. Secondly, with actual engine rpm determined by initial engine rpm and work load, tractor power output and fuel consumption rate were forecasted. Thirdly, with speed signals of GPS sensor system, it was possible to foresee tractor work performance and fuel consumption rate. Lastly, precision of the eco driving system was evaluated through tractor PTO test, and effects of the eco driving system were investigated in the plowing and rotary tilling operations. Engine rpm, power output, fuel consumption rate, work performance and fuel consumption rate per plot area were displayed in the eco driving system. Predicted tractor power outputs in the full load curve were well coincided with the actual power output of prototype, but small differences, 1 to 6 ㎾, were found in the part load curve. Error of the fuel consumption rate was 0.5 L/h, 4.5%, the greatest, and 1 to 3 L/h at the part load curve. It was shown that 69% and 53% of fuel consumption rates could be reduced in plowing and rotary tilling operations, respectively, when the eco driving system was installed in tractor.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.31 no.1 s.114
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• pp.16-23
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• 2006

Depth and working load control is one of the most important technique in control system for tractor rotary implement automation. Keeping the depth consistent is critical to bring along crops and to improve the efficiency and quality of the following operations. Keeping the load of engine consistent is an essential factor for the efficiency of operation and engine protection of tractor. In this study we investigated the possibility of application of depth and working load control system for tractor using a proportional valve through field tests. Depth control was implemented by the ascent and descent of 3 point linkage for the change of setting depth. There were 4 mm and 5.2 mm control deviations for setting depths of 50mm and 100mm, respectively. Load control was operated appropriately by the ascent and of descent of 3 point link for the change of setting working load. The standard deviations between setting load and engine load were 171 rpm at 1.3 km/h and 164 rpm at 2.3 km/h tractor travel velocity. The results of experiment showed that the characteristics of response was sufficient to be used as the implement depth and working load control system for tractor using proportional valve.

• 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.