Forage Harvester Control Matching Compression Output
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current forage harvesting systems face inefficiencies due to mismatched harvesting and compression outputs, leading to unnecessary exposure of plant material to oxygen, inadequate compression, and increased production costs, as the harvesting output is not dynamically adjusted to match the compression capacity.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that adapt the harvesting output of forage harvesting vehicles in real-time to match the compression output by using a control unit to compare and adjust engine output, ensuring continuous operation and minimizing oxygen exposure, through optical detection and communication between vehicles to optimize the processing chain.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the harvesting output is increased to maximize productivity, then the harvesting speed and area covered are improved, but the plant material is exposed to atmospheric oxygen for longer periods and compression becomes inadequate
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit continuously monitors the compression output of the compression device and uses this feedback to dynamically adjust the harvesting output of the harvesting vehicle. This closed-loop control ensures that the harvesting rate is always matched to the compression capacity, preventing oxygen exposure while maintaining high productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from static engine operation to dynamic output adjustment. The harvesting vehicle's engine output is continuously varied based on real-time compression capacity, allowing the system to adapt to changing conditions and maintain optimal performance throughout the harvesting and compression process.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the harvesting output is reduced to match compression capacity, then oxygen exposure is minimized, but the compression vehicle operates unproductively and production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit receives real-time data on compression capacity and uses this feedback to adjust the harvesting vehicle's engine output accordingly. This ensures that the harvesting rate is always optimized to match compression capacity, preventing both oxygen exposure and unnecessary fuel consumption from idle compression operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the engine output parameter of the harvesting vehicle based on real-time compression capacity measurements. By continuously adjusting this parameter, the system maintains optimal harvesting rates that match compression capacity, eliminating waste from both oxygen exposure and idle compression operations.
3Productivity
If multiple harvesting vehicles are used to increase harvesting output, then the harvesting capacity is improved, but the coordination complexity increases and congestion at the silo occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The control units of multiple harvesting vehicles are merged into a coordinated system that shares real-time data on compression capacity. This allows multiple vehicles to operate as a unified system, automatically adjusting their individual outputs to match the overall compression capacity and preventing congestion at the silo.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from compression capacity measurements to coordinate multiple harvesting vehicles. Each vehicle receives real-time information about the overall compression rate and adjusts its output accordingly, enabling complex multi-vehicle coordination without manual intervention and preventing silo congestion.
4Productivity
If the engine operates continuously at full output during field work, then the harvesting productivity is maximized, but fuel consumption increases unnecessarily during low throughput situations
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces continuous full-output engine operation with dynamic output adjustment. The engine power is continuously varied based on real-time compression capacity feedback, allowing the harvesting vehicle to operate at optimal power levels for current conditions and eliminating unnecessary fuel consumption during low throughput situations.
Solution Approach 2:
The engine output parameter is dynamically changed based on real-time compression capacity measurements. This continuous parameter adjustment ensures the engine operates at the most efficient power level for current harvesting conditions, maximizing productivity when needed and minimizing fuel consumption during low throughput periods.
Data Source
AI summary
Plant material for ensilage is harvested using at least one harvesting vehicle in the field, is hauled to a silo and is compressed using a compression device. The compression output of the compression device is compared to the harvesting output of the at least one harvesting vehicle, and a command to increase the harvesting output or to decrease the harvesting output of the harvesting vehicle (1) to a non-vanishing value is generated when the harvesting output deviates significantly from the compression output.