Techniques for Improving the Efficiency of Agricultural Fluid Power Systems

Four alternative fluid power systems were analyzed to determine their efficiencies and standby power consumption while providing hydraulic power for power steering and a hitch for an agricultural tractor operating over a typical duty cycle.

The investigation shows that a significant reduction in losses can be achieved with systems incorporating both split flow and variable delivery capabilities. These characteristics reduce losses by providing the required flow and pressure to each function without a large pressure drop for the function operating at the lower pressure.

These systems can be used to improve efficiencies whenever there are multiple, simultaneous hydraulic power demands which require significantly different pressures.