Optimal design of a series hybrid powertrain for an agricultural tractor

Hybrid powertrains represent a potential solution to reduce the emissions of agricultural machineries and meet the restrictive standards introduced by the different governments with the aim to achieve Climate Neutrality. This study investigates a hybrid powertrain in the series architecture as it po...

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Main Authors: Manuel Antonio Perez Estevez, Joaquim Melendez Frigola, Joaquim Armengol Llobet, Luigi Alberti, Massimiliano Renzi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-10-01
Series:Energy Conversion and Management: X
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590174524002678
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author Manuel Antonio Perez Estevez
Joaquim Melendez Frigola
Joaquim Armengol Llobet
Luigi Alberti
Massimiliano Renzi
author_facet Manuel Antonio Perez Estevez
Joaquim Melendez Frigola
Joaquim Armengol Llobet
Luigi Alberti
Massimiliano Renzi
author_sort Manuel Antonio Perez Estevez
collection DOAJ
description Hybrid powertrains represent a potential solution to reduce the emissions of agricultural machineries and meet the restrictive standards introduced by the different governments with the aim to achieve Climate Neutrality. This study investigates a hybrid powertrain in the series architecture as it potentially better suits the requirements of agricultural applications, even though it has not yet been fully investigated in literature. A series hybrid powertrain model was built, then its control and components size were optimized for a vineyard/orchard tractor using real on-field data and a two level optimization procedure. This last is based on Dynamic Programming and the exhaustive search approach. Both environmental and economical aspects were taken into account in the optimization goals; in addition, powertrain volume constraints were introduced as they represent a key limiting factor for tractor hybridization. The average efficiency of the hybrid powertrain is higher than that of the conventional configuration. A sensitivity analysis was performed to understand the impact of different design parameters. This analysis showed that hybrid powertrains have enormous potential in the agricultural market, as this type of configuration was simulated in several scenarios for different European countries showing to be the most convenient. Moreover, this trend is expected to intensify with the upcoming emissions regulations and the increase in fuel prices through emission taxes.
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series Energy Conversion and Management: X
spelling doaj-art-98cd7f6212344841ac4eeac55cf5bb2b2025-08-20T02:37:06ZengElsevierEnergy Conversion and Management: X2590-17452024-10-012410078910.1016/j.ecmx.2024.100789Optimal design of a series hybrid powertrain for an agricultural tractorManuel Antonio Perez Estevez0Joaquim Melendez Frigola1Joaquim Armengol Llobet2Luigi Alberti3Massimiliano Renzi4Scuola Universitaria Professionale della Svizzera Italiana, Via Flora Ruchat-Roncati 15, Mendrisio, 6850, Ticino, SwitzerlandUniversitat de Girona- Escola Politècnica superior, C/Ma Aurèlia Capmany, 61, Girona, 17003, Girona, SpainUniversitat de Girona- Escola Politècnica superior, C/Ma Aurèlia Capmany, 61, Girona, 17003, Girona, SpainUniversità di Padova, Via VIII Febbraio, 2, Padova, 35122, Padova, ItalyFree University of Bozen-Bolzano, Piazza Università, 1, Bolzano, 39100, Bolzano, Italy; Corresponding author.Hybrid powertrains represent a potential solution to reduce the emissions of agricultural machineries and meet the restrictive standards introduced by the different governments with the aim to achieve Climate Neutrality. This study investigates a hybrid powertrain in the series architecture as it potentially better suits the requirements of agricultural applications, even though it has not yet been fully investigated in literature. A series hybrid powertrain model was built, then its control and components size were optimized for a vineyard/orchard tractor using real on-field data and a two level optimization procedure. This last is based on Dynamic Programming and the exhaustive search approach. Both environmental and economical aspects were taken into account in the optimization goals; in addition, powertrain volume constraints were introduced as they represent a key limiting factor for tractor hybridization. The average efficiency of the hybrid powertrain is higher than that of the conventional configuration. A sensitivity analysis was performed to understand the impact of different design parameters. This analysis showed that hybrid powertrains have enormous potential in the agricultural market, as this type of configuration was simulated in several scenarios for different European countries showing to be the most convenient. Moreover, this trend is expected to intensify with the upcoming emissions regulations and the increase in fuel prices through emission taxes.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590174524002678TractorsPowertrain architecturePowertrain optimizationEmissions reductionSeries hybrid
spellingShingle Manuel Antonio Perez Estevez
Joaquim Melendez Frigola
Joaquim Armengol Llobet
Luigi Alberti
Massimiliano Renzi
Optimal design of a series hybrid powertrain for an agricultural tractor
Energy Conversion and Management: X
Tractors
Powertrain architecture
Powertrain optimization
Emissions reduction
Series hybrid
title Optimal design of a series hybrid powertrain for an agricultural tractor
title_full Optimal design of a series hybrid powertrain for an agricultural tractor
title_fullStr Optimal design of a series hybrid powertrain for an agricultural tractor
title_full_unstemmed Optimal design of a series hybrid powertrain for an agricultural tractor
title_short Optimal design of a series hybrid powertrain for an agricultural tractor
title_sort optimal design of a series hybrid powertrain for an agricultural tractor
topic Tractors
Powertrain architecture
Powertrain optimization
Emissions reduction
Series hybrid
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590174524002678
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AT joaquimmelendezfrigola optimaldesignofaserieshybridpowertrainforanagriculturaltractor
AT joaquimarmengolllobet optimaldesignofaserieshybridpowertrainforanagriculturaltractor
AT luigialberti optimaldesignofaserieshybridpowertrainforanagriculturaltractor
AT massimilianorenzi optimaldesignofaserieshybridpowertrainforanagriculturaltractor