Design load analysis for electrification of a 55-kW agricultural tractor based on workload

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Engineering
• Electrical Engineering
• Durability Analysis

Background:

• Electrification of agricultural machinery is advancing.
• Understanding design loads is critical for electric tractor powertrain development.
• Previous studies focused on larger tractors, necessitating data for 55-kW models.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine and analyze design loads for a 55-kW electric agricultural tractor.
• To generate load spectra for durability assessment using Load Duration Distribution (LDD) and Rainflow Counting (RFC).
• To establish a methodology for deriving design loads for agricultural machinery.

Main Methods:

• Field experiments were conducted on a 55-kW tractor in a silt loam paddy field.
• A measurement system recorded data from engine, axles, PTO, and hydraulic pump during plow tillage, rotary tillage, and driving.
• Power requirement, LDD, and RFC analyses were performed.

Main Results:

• Plow tillage resulted in the highest power demand (52.6 kW), dominated by axle torque.
• Rotary tillage was power take-off (PTO)-driven; driving operations showed lower average loads with traction peaks.
• The 55-kW tractor had lower power needs and a more balanced traction distribution than a 78-kW model, with minimal hydraulic load.

Conclusions:

• Design loads are dominated by a few high-load cycles during tillage operations.
• LDD and RFC analyses are effective for durability assessment of electric tractor powertrains.
• The findings support the development of utility electric tractors and durability-driven design.