Fuel Savings from Operating Condition Indicator on Agricultural Tractor (Part 1)

——Indoor Tests, Rotary Tilling Tests and Mole Drainage Tests——

Abstract

A prototype system that indicates the operating conditions to enable the operator to reduce fuel consumption was mounted on a 24kW agricultural tractor and subjected to indoor dynamometer tests, rotary tilling tests and mole drainage tests. By changing the operating conditions (traveling gear, PTO gear, and engine speed) according to the indications of this system, the operator could reduce fuel consumption by about 15% at a power ratio (the ratio of working power to the maximum PTO output) of 55 to 65%, by 25 to 30% at a power ratio of 35 to 40%, and by 35 to 45% at a power ratio of about 20% with full throttle. Moreover, with 2/4 throttle, the operator could reduce fuel consumption by 10 to 20% at a power ratio of 10 to 25%.