Innovative hybrid-electric drivetrain for road sweepers

Empa, ETH Zurich and manufacturer Bucher Municipal have jointly developed an innovative hybrid-electric drivetrain for road sweepers in the CTI project. The concept is based on an engine with a gas engine that provides power for electric motors. Compared to conventional sweepers, the consumption of energy halved and CO2 emissions reduced by more than 60 percent. Bucher Municipal is currently working on a study of the concept, to investigate the possible commercialization of new technologies.

Sweepers, leave the sidewalks, paths and roads clean. For this purpose they are equipped with a transmission for moving the vehicle, a blower for suction of dirt and debris, and brush to clear the land. The energy required for operation of all components is provided in the present diesel engine; a complex system of hydraulic distribution guides appropriate share of energy to different components.

These machines have long working hours — six to eight hours a day. With the consumption of more than five liters of diesel fuel per hour annual consumption in a car is around 10,000 liters. This is about ten times more than the typical consumption of a passenger car. A German study estimated that the contribution of such working machines as sweeping machines, municipal machines, trucks to landfill, etc., with energy consumption of all traffic reaches 15 percent, despite the fact that the actual number of such vehicles is relatively small.



Bucher Municipal is a leader in the European market compact wide vehicles. Empa and ETH Zurich are conducting research on future powertrain technology. In the framework of the project supported by CTI Commission for technology and innovation, the partners have developed an innovative drivetrain for road cleaning machines.

The objectives of the project were ambitious: energy consumption compared to modern diesel vehicles should be reduced by 45 percent, the total cost of the car (buying, interest, operating expenses) shall not exceed the cost of current technology.

To achieve this, researchers and engineers have replaced the conventional hydraulic power distribution more efficient electric drive system. Instead of having to develop a diesel engine with a hydraulic pump, a small gas engine with generator power now operates as the source drive. In addition, modern energy management system controls the interaction between components.

 

The results show that compared to a conventional diesel machine electric hybrid sweeper, fueled by natural gas, consumes less than half the energy for a standard cycle for cleaning vehicles. Due to the low carbon content of natural gas, CO2 emissions have declined by as much as 60 percent, and the use of biogas, this effect is only intensified. Significantly lower consumption, combined with lower prices for fuel and natural gas, will lead to a significant reduction in operating costs that more than offset the higher initial purchase price.

The hybrid drive system has a modular design. This means that gasoline, liquefied gazovoy or diesel engine can be installed instead of an engine on natural gas. If hydrogen fuel cell or more powerful battery will be used instead of the internal combustion engine, pure electric work will also be possible. This modular drive concept will allow Bucher Municipal to meet a wide range of needs of different customers in the future.

Bucher Municipal plans to develop a modular platform of the hybrid drive and it begins internal investigation of the concept. Further work on cost reduction, optimization and packaging will be performed in the field of battery power, built-in generator and sweeper in General. In parallel, production processes will be analyzed in relation to the electrification of the car. The goal is to bring innovative sweeper for the market in the foreseeable future. published

 

P. S. And remember, only by changing their consumption — together we change the world! ©

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Source: www.engnews.ru/news/innovacionnaya_gibridno_elektricheskaya_transmissiya_dlya_dorozhnyh_uborochnyh_mashin.html

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