Countdown to Plug in Hybrid CUT?

[jake98]

Seems like we can't have a discussion anymore without political potshots.

:confused2:

Well, it's pretty much a purely political subject..

Chevy Volts aren't selling. I guess unless someone wants to build their own to make a point, which has been done, then what's to talk about?

 

[chopped]

I just read that Costco is removing their car charging outlets because nobody but Al Gore was using them. They were probably sick of him dimming their lights when he plugged in his SUV.. :laughing:

:laughing::laughing:

 

[N80]

Seems to me that the hybrid answer is best for a tractor. I'm not an engineer but the way I envision it would be a very small, high efficiency diesel engine that can run a generator and maybe the hydraulic pump/s at a fairly constant speed. A large electric motor would drive the wheels and PTO. No batteries except to start the diesel.

The issue, for SCUT and CUT owners is that you'd pay a lot for this machine and for most weekend warriors there would be no significant cost savings. And the complexity would be a minus too. My tractor fuel costs are hardly worth mentioning at maybe 50-60 hours a year on a 45hp machine.

I think the hybrid described above would be better for big machines that run all day long. The idea is pretty much how a diesel locomotive works, just scaled down a bit.

 

[old fool]

You must be an engineer. What you just described is, well, a tractor. A small, efficient diesel engine turning a hydraulic pump and an alternator. The only reason a diesel locomotive operates this way is for torque. A hydraulic motor would have to be 100' in diameter to get the same torque.

 

[N80]

You've confused me. Not hard to do, so don't feel bad.

My thinking, which may be flawed, is that this small diesel, maybe 2 cylinders would run at a constant rpm optimized for maximum fuel efficiency. This diesel would turn the generator, which would provide power to an electric motor or motors, to run the drive wheels. If a locomotive does this for torque, well, torque is a pretty good thing in a tractor. Plus, individual electric motors for each driven wheel would allow computerized traction control for less slippage (ideal for large acerage farming).

The principle of the small diesel is similar to the principle for APU's on large aircraft. Its a tiny jet turbine that provides power via generator for the aircraft when the main engines are off.

But, I suspect that in principle you are right and that if someone did the math, a diesel electric tractor might burn exactly the saem amount as a straight diesel. It just seems to me, that the diesel electric principle could be applied to one of these:

For the same reason it works in a locomotive. Presumably this is not the case or some smart fellow at John Deere would have already invented it. Oh well.

 

[Baby Grand]

Well...........according to Nasa scientists, in conjunction with scientist from Penn State University............Ya prolly ain't gotta worry bout that much longer:

Aliens may destroy humanity to protect other civilisations, say scientists | Science | The Guardian

I personally(after reading this article), would watch very carefully which scientist I rely on for information.

And as to mercury............buy a few more squiggly, curly-cue, light bulbs...........and dispose of them in lanfills:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

Don - it's actually aliens from the planet Mercury that pose the greatest risk:
The Mercury Men - Main
Their plan is to use the steel framework of a high rise office building to enhance their gravity device which will pull down the Moon into the Earth!

 

[Baby Grand]

You are 45 miles from the nearest coal fired plant( CT only has 2)..............The chances of you smelling /seeing/tasting anything are lodged squarely at a minus 100!!!!!!! And there ain't no way it's affecting your corn............but if'n ya wanna get on a roll.............I'll tell you what to investigate.

Why do they not allow GMO foods across the big pond, and why has there been consecutive executive orders NOT allowing GMO crops to be evaluated by the FDA here in the good ole USA????

If you dig deep enough...........it will scare the crap out of you!!!!!

It would surely seem that way, but if you dig deep enough, reality has a cruel and perverse sense of humor. It turns out that theres a lot of coal generation upwind from us Nutmeggers and there is 100% chance that we suffer, directly, from the fallout:

New Report: Coal Power Plants Release Huge Quantities of Mercury, Polluting Streams and Rivers Nationwide - Jonathan Kantrowitz - Connecticut News

 

[Redneck in training]

Komatsu sells hybrid backhoe already. It recovers energy when the dipper goes down by gravity.

 

[jonyyuma]

Did you ever see an Electric push-back tug for an aircraft? It was huge for the massive batterys...Some companys have dropped them as they were maintence prohibitive, plus the batterys were larger than the big forklift items.The chargers were 3 phase 440 volt units...You pay more for Diesel fuel now because, the refinerys had to modify the process and add equipment to further remove the Sulfur from the crude. IE low sulfur fuel now sold.

 

[Don87]

Don - it's actually aliens from the planet Mercury that pose the greatest risk:
The Mercury Men - Main
Their plan is to use the steel framework of a high rise office building to enhance their gravity device which will pull down the Moon into the Earth!

So thats ...........the rest of the story...........whoda thunk it :laughing::laughing:

 

[Don87]

It would surely seem that way, but if you dig deep enough, reality has a cruel and perverse sense of humor. It turns out that theres a lot of coal generation upwind from us Nutmeggers and there is 100% chance that we suffer, directly, from the fallout:

New Report: Coal Power Plants Release Huge Quantities of Mercury, Polluting Streams and Rivers Nationwide - Jonathan Kantrowitz - Connecticut News

Until you fully understand the agenda, behind the link you posted, you will fall for any such blog post as that link.

But to keep in context with your original post, that I commented on. You do not "wake up smelling clean coal in the morning"

 

[Short Game]

I would guess that the Koch Bros.' scheme is to make enough money for them and theirs to escape the planet and not come back until the rest of us, and any other surviving species, have evolved and mutated to the point where mercury is good for us, then return to get the gene spliced into them.

Search term for today: "Breakaway Civilization"

 

[GLyford]

Presumably this is not the case or some smart fellow at John Deere would have already invented it.

Look up "LeTourneau", these guys have been making diesel electric equipment since just after WWII, mostly for forestry and mining, though there was also that "land train" thing. You'll notice the engine compartments on their machines are still plenty big. The best way to think of a straight non-battery (or flywheel, hydraulic accumulator, air compressor, or whatever other energy storage you might use) diesel-electric is that it doesn't replace the engine, it replaces the transmission and driveline. The raw power to start with (and the fuel consumption) will be about the same. You gain a few % on efficiency, wear and tear, and operating costs.

What batteries allow you to do is to take less output over a longer period of time and release it in short bursts. Also, a car operating at steady speed doesn't need nearly as much power as it takes to get it up there, which makes the battery setups a good match. For a constant heavy pull, you're out of the area where the batteries do well. And without the batteries, you still need all that power available at once--regardless if it's gears, a hydrostat, or a generator and traction motor in between the engine and tires.

For just running light errands such as moving wagons around, yeah it might make sense--so would having a smaller more efficient machine around to do those errands. For running any sort of powered implement (mower, tiller) or ground engaging tool (plow, harrow) not so much.

The tractor I see most used to do an electric conversion is an Allis G. Before conversion, this tractor puts out about 8hp (drawbar, 10 belt) stock, and is mostly used for cultivating...pretty light duty, and not a bad matchup for electric.

If you just need to carry yourself and a few tools around, how about a battery golf cart? If it will make you feel better, you can get ag lugs for them...

 

[jake98]

Did you ever see an Electric push-back tug for an aircraft?

They probably need the lead on those anyway, for traction.