Work

Simulation of Engine Power Requirement and Fuel Consumption in a Self-Propelled Crop Collector

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: This study attempted to develop and validate a data-driven simulation model that integrates field-measured data to assess the power requirement and fuel consumption characteristics of a self-propelled collector. The collector is a hydrostatic transmission-based, crawler-type platform designed for garlic and onion harvesting, equipped with multiple hydraulic subsystems for collection and sorting. During field experiments, the power requirements of each subsystem and fuel flow rate were recorded, and Willans line method was applied to estimate engine power and subsystem power transmission efficiencies. Because many small agricultural machines do not support electronically instrumented engines (e.g., CAN-bus/ECU-based measurements), the proposed model was formulated as a data-driven, low-order representation derived from on-site measurements rather than a full physics-based model. Using the identified parameters, the simulation framework predicts engine power and fuel efficiency under various operating conditions. The simulation results exhibited high agreement with field data, achieving R2 and mean absolute percentage error values of 0.935–0.981 and 1.79–4.18%, respectively, confirming reliable reproduction of real field performance. A comprehensive analysis of the simulation results revealed that both engine speed and travel speed significantly influence power distribution and fuel rate, while also indicating that hydraulic working power is the dominant contributor to total power demand at higher engine speeds. These findings provide practical guidance for improving the fuel efficiency of compact self-propelled collectors.

Source: Actuators

DOI: 10.3390/act15010008

Authors: Yi-Seo Min, Young-Woo Do, Youngtae Yun, Sang-Hee Lee, Seung-Gwi Kwon, Wan-Soo Kim

Institutions: Kyungpook National University, Rural Development Administration

Language: English

Topic: Agricultural Engineering and Mechanization

Subfield: Mechanical Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Affordable and clean energy, Industry, innovation and infrastructure, Zero hunger

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,896