A Comprehensive Energy Model Development for Off-Highway Vehicles

摘要

Utilizing machine and thermal system simulations (vehicle energy models) can be very helpfulfor vehicle manufacturing companies to develop a machine with acceptable componenttemperatures, less heat loads to the vehicle cooling systems, and reduced emissions that will alsoreduce the overall product development cycle. Energy models of vehicles were developed mostlyin the automotive industry, and most of these studies in the past were based on partial energymodels.The objective of this study is to create a comprehensive energy model for agricultural machineryby using EASY5, which will be a basis for future work on similar products and a subject ofadvanced modeling and simulation classes in engineering technology institutions. A tractormodel from a Midwest off-road machinery manufacturing company was selected as a startingpoint for modeling. The work in creating the model has been presented in detail. Verification ofthe simulation model was carried out using the results from three different wind tunnel tests thatwere conducted by the Midwest Company; namely the PTO test, the AXLE test, and the high-speed wind tunnel transport test. The critical parameters were selected to be analyzed for eachtest were the top tank temperature, the intake manifold temperature, the oil cooler inlettemperature, the oil cooler outlet temperature, the fuel cooler inlet temperature, the fuel cooleroutlet temperature, the fan speed, the engine speed, the PTO torque and the axle torque. Most ofthe electrical and mechanical engineering and technology curricula include instrumentation,advanced CAD, and control courses using AutoCAD and LabView? combined with a varietyof instrumentation inputs from proximity sensors and other transducers provided a good learningtools for undergraduate and graduate students. This comprehensive energy model promises to beincluded in an elective undergraduate senior and graduate level advanced simulation and dataacquisition classes.