• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.1027-1037
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• 2021

This study aims to evaluate the performance of an electric multi-purpose cultivator through a simulation analysis. The simulation model was developed using commercial software, Simulation X, by applying the specifications of certain parts, such as an electric motor, a battery, and so on. The input parameter of the simulation was the engine load data according to the rotary tillage level using a conventional multi-purpose cultivator. The data were collected by configuring a load measurement system, and the load cycle was developed by repeating the data collection process under the most severe conditions. The average output engine torque values of conventional multi-purpose cultivator were 10.7, 13.0, 9.4, and 11.2 Nm in the D1P1, D1P2, D2P1, and D2P2 conditions, respectively. As a result of the simulation, the maximum values of the motor torque, rotational speed, and power of the electric multi-purpose cultivator were 16.8 Nm, 2,033.3 rpm, and 3.3 kW, respectively, and the motor was driven in sections within 70, 68, and 45% of the maximum output range. The rate of decrease of the battery state of charge (SOC) level per minute was approximately 0.6%, and it was possible to supply electric power to the motor for 9,550 sec. In the future study, research to verify and improve simulation models of electric multi-purpose cultivators should be conducted.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.274-282
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• 2014

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.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.447-452
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• 2015

A hybrid power system was developed for agricultural machines with a 20kW output capacity, and it was attached to a multi-purpose cultivator to improve the performance of the cultivator. 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 a hybrid system was designed to have increased fuel efficiency and output power and reduced exhaust gas emissions, while maintaining the functions of existing cultivators. The fuel consumption for driving the cultivator in the hybrid engine vehicle (HEV) mode was 341g/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 12.7kW, 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. The hybrid power system improved the fuel efficiency and reduced exhaust gas emissions in agricultural machinery. The hybrid system's lower exhaust gas emissions have considerable advantages in closed work environments such as crop production facilities. Therefore, agricultural machinery with less exhaust gas emissions should be commercialized.