Design Considerations in Electric Multi-Tool Carrier for Protected Cultivation
Yamagar S. G. *
Division of Agricultural Engineering, ICAR-IARI, New Delhi, 110012, India.
Adarsh Kumar
Division of Agricultural Engineering, ICAR-IARI, New Delhi, 110012, India.
H. L. Kushwaha
Division of Agricultural Engineering and Renewable Energy, ICAR-Central Arid Zone Research Institute (CAZRI), Jodhpur, Rajasthan, 342003, India.
Awani Kumar Singh
Division of Vegetable Science, ICAR-IARI, New Delhi, 110012, India.
Ramasubramanian V.
Division of Research System Management, ICAR-NAARM, Hyderabad, 500030, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The design considerations of a prototype electric multi-tool carrier rely heavily on the selection of a prime mover, where the Brushless DC (BLDC) motor emerges as the optimal choice. The BLDC motor's compact size, reduced weight, and high torque output make it well-suited for the intended agricultural operations. The transition from the prime mover to the power transmission system involves determining the ground wheel diameter and achieving a target speed of 10 km/h. The calculated speed ratio of the BLDC prime mover to the power transmission system (25:1) ensures efficient and synchronized multi-tool carrier operation. During testing, the BLDC prime mover exceeded expectations, producing a torque of 90.24 Nm, surpassing the specified requirement of 67.53 Nm. This robust performance highlights the prime mover capability to meet and exceed operational demands across varying speeds. The meticulous consideration of torque requirements in the design phase validates the BLDC motor's efficiency for the proposed electric multi-tool carrier, emphasizing its suitability for the envisioned application.
Keywords: Electric multi-tool carrier, BLDC Prime mover, torque requirements, power transmission system and operational efficiency