Development of an integrated engine-hydro-mechanical transmission control algorithm for a tractor

This article presents an integrated engine-hydro-mechanical transmission control algorithm for a tractor considering the engine-hydro-mechanical transmission efficiency. First, the hydro-mechanical transmission efficiency was obtained by network analysis based on the hydrostatic unit efficiency constructed from the test. Using the hydro-mechanical transmission efficiency map and the thermal efficiency of the engine, an engine-hydro-mechanical transmission optimal operating line was obtained, which provides higher total system efficiency. Based on the optimal operating line, an integrated engine-hydro-mechanical transmission control algorithm was proposed, which provides higher total powertrain system efficiency. To evaluate the performance of the proposed control algorithm, an AMESim-MATLAB/Simulink-based co-simulator was developed. From the simulation results for the plow working, it was found that the integrated engine-hydro-mechanical transmission control provides improved fuel economy by 7.5% compared with the existing engine optimal operating line control. The performance of the integrated engine-hydro-mechanical transmission control was also validated using the test bench.