An experimental fuel efficiency meter
Date
1975-02
Authors
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ORCID
Type
Degree Level
Masters
Abstract
The use of a meter that displays instantaneously to
the tractor operator on a continuous basis the fuel efficiency
of his tillage operation, would make possible the observation
of the change in efficiency and the effect on the tillage
operation when changes in field condition occur. The operator
would be able to make adjustments and immediately observe
the effect on efficiency in order to keep the efficiency as
high as possible. The selection of a best size machine and
adjusting the speed and depth to improve fuel efficiency
should not affect the quality of tillage.
Trying to maintain the efficiency as high as possible
means higher power output at a lower fuel consumption. Therefore,
cheaper operation can be achieved.
Fuel efficiency is the drawbar horsepower of the
tractor (constant x load x speed) divided by the power input
(amount of fuel consumed).
In view of this, an efficiency meter was constructed
and tested. The meter electrically calculated the efficiency
from the outputs of three transducers measuring draft, speed
and fuel consumption.
An electrical resistance strain gage dynamometer, a
d.c. tachometer generator and a turbine meter were used to
determine the load pulled by the tractor, the actual speed of the tractor and fuel consumed by the tractor engine respectively.
The linear characteristics between the variable
being measured and the output of each of the three devices
listed above have the advantage in making a fuel efficiency
meter simpler to design.
A low cost vortex flowmeter that can be used on
Agricultural tractors for the measurements of fuel consumption
was built and tested. The meter showed a linear
measuring characteristic and that the frequency of rotation
of the contained ball depends mainly on the density of the
ball and track radius.
During a field test draft measurement compared favorably
with another type of pull meter and the percent error in
fuel efficiency measurement is probably small compared to the
human error in attempting to estimate an average value of the
reading being taken, mainly because of the instantaneous
variation in draft.
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Citation
Degree
Master of Science (M.Sc.)
Department
Agricultural Engineering
Program
Agricultural Engineering