Environmentally Friendly Hybrid Power System for Cultivators

Purpose: In this study, a hybrid power system was developed for agricultural machines with a 20-KW output capacity, and it was attached to a multi-purpose cultivator to improve the performance of the cultivator, which was evaluated using output tests. Methods: The hybrid system combined heterogeneous sources: an internal-combustion engine and an electric power motor. In addition, a power splitter was developed to simplify the power transmission structure. The cultivator using the hybrid system was designed to have increased fuel efficiency and output power and reduced exhaust gas emissions, while maintaining the functions of existing cultivators. Results: The fuel consumption for driving the cultivator in the hybrid engine vehicle (HEV) mode was 341 g/KWh, which was 36% less than the consumption in the engine (ENG) mode for the same load. The maximum power take off output of the hybrid power system was 12.7 KW, which was 38% more than the output of the internal-combustion engine. In the HEV mode, harmful exhaust gas emissions were reduced; i.e., CO emissions were reduced by 36~41% and NOx emissions were reduced by 27~51% compared to the corresponding emissions in the ENG mode. Conclusions: The hybrid power system improved the fuel efficiency and reduced exhaust gas emissions in agricultural machinery. Lower exhaust gas emissions of the hybrid system have considerable advantages in closed work environments such as crop production facilities; therefore, agricultural machinery with less exhaust gas emissions should be commercialized. However, the high manufacturing cost and complexity of the proposed system are challenges which need to be solved in the future.