Browsing by Subject "Agricultural machines"

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Einsatzmöglichkeiten elektrischer Antriebe für landwirtschaftliche Maschinenkombinationen
(2011) Hahn, Klaus; Böttinger, Stefan
Tractor-Implement-Systems are a vital component of agricultural mechanization. Their replacement by self propelled machines seems unlikely in the foreseeable future. At the same time, rising needs for food, high cost of energy, and a limited workforce require continuing increases in productivity. However, this should not have a negative impact on the environment. Technological progress is therefore of outstanding importance. Looking for trends in neighboring domains an increase in the utilization of electric drives can be observed. The research presented in this thesis shows that electric drives offer various benefits for agricultural tractors and implements ? the most important advantages being efficiency, controllability, and the possibility to distribute components. Yet, to fully utilize what electric drives have to offer it is necessary to pay close attention to system architecture as well as operator control concepts to make them work in the special environment of agricultural machinery. A concept was developed that is building on the ISOBUSidea of distributed control systems. For instance, the controller (i.e. the inverter) was placed on the tractor whereas the actuator (i.e. the motor) is on the implement. Given the frequent reconfiguration of the machines the inverter thus becomes a multi-purpose component. Easy, safe, comfortable, and profitable use is achieved by a high degree of standardization of the connector ? which includes automatic identification and configuration. Analytical models as well as prototype machinery of a fertilizer spreader, a sprayer, and a trailer with a propelled axle yielded a multitude of benefits. These include reduced fuel consumption for the spreader, less residual volume for the sprayer and better traction and vehicle dynamics for the propelled trailer. The good controllability of electric drives proved to be especially beneficial for those implements usually associated with precision farming: spreader and sprayer. Unproductive times for coupling and filling can be reduced. A propelled trailer helps to reduce soil compaction. The systems presented here are, however, in an early phase of development. The benefits of decoupling implement drivelines form the tractor?s engine speed could be proven. Due to their superior efficiency under partial loads electric drives are especially advantageous in applications that come with a wide range of loads. As far as complexity and ease of use are concerned, all three implements profited from the implementation of electric drives. In all cases safety and comfort of coupling the implement did increase. However, the systems are still limited both in functionality as well as level of automation. But given the good controllability, which is independent of most external influences, it is fair to assume that there is a high potential for improvements in this regard. When it comes to system control, a high degree of integration will be mandatory for the operator to fully utilize this increasing functionality. The required standardization is yet to be achieved. A mere substitution of a given drive by an electric drive is not always sensible. The use of electric drives necessitates a revision of rotational speed levels ? or more generally speaking ? of the working principle. It is vital to include the overload capability of electric drives into these considerations. The propelled trailer has a clear advantage in traction in the field whereas driving dynamics have a higher importance on the road. Whether it is a traction-assist or a drive that can be utilized over the entire speed range drives the power required and hence cost, weight, and space. In the end, this is an economical question but it may also be significantly influenced by legislation.