Authors: Hamsini B R, Rukmini A G, Suprita P Kulkarni, Sushma S, J N Hemalatha
Abstract: The modern farm tractor makes so many of the meals served in our country possible. So, although increasing productivity and reducing emissions will
require the adoption of new methods, modern farming technology is more than ready to tackle the challenge.
Safer tractor operations and the use of protective equipment could prevent many of the deaths and injuries involving tractors. Owners, managers, and tractor operators all play a major role in making tractor operations safer. Owners have responsibilities for providing a safer environment and safer equipment. Managers coordinate maintenance designed to ensure the safety of equipment, as well as safety policies and programs. The final responsibility for making the operation of tractors safer lies with the tractor operators themselves. It's often only when an incident occurs that people become focused on what might have prevented injury or loss of life.
Making a tractor with good efficiency with optimum cost is a challenge. This can be done only when each component present in an independent hybrid tractor works reliably and these components must have long life. Design and selection of the components thus plays an important role. Our idea of independent-hybrid quarter scale tractor aims to cater the fuel efficiency norm as well as make an efficient system for the farmers to handle their various tasks. With the concept of Combustion engine running on gasoline along with the electric motor as the secondary source, energy management becomes an integral part of the design.
In a parallel hybrid electric vehicle the single electric motor and the internal combustion engine are installed to deliver power in parallel to drive the wheels. As both the engine and electric motor are connected to the drive shaft through a mechanical coupling, they can propel the vehicle by the engine alone, by the motor alone, or by both together. The electric motor can be used as a generator to charge the energy storage devices (battery or ultracapacitors) by regeneration braking or by extra power from the engine.
As the engine is connected to the wheels via mechanical coupling, it makes this type hybrid quite efficient on the highway. In addition, a parallel hybrid vehicle only needs two propulsion devices – engine and electric motor, which makes the system very compact.
Keywords: Hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), Independent Hybrid Tractor, Internal combustion engine (ICE)
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