An investigation of energy efficiency of a wheel loader with automated manual transmission

• Published in: Journal of mechanical science and technology Vol. 30; no. 7; pp. 2933 - 2940
• Main Authors: Oh, Kwangseok, Yun, Seungjae, Ko, Kyungeun, Kim, Panyoung, Seo, Jaho, Yi, Kyongsu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Seoul Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers 01.07.2016; Springer Nature B.V; 대한기계학회
• Subjects: Automation; Clutches; Computer simulation; Construction equipment; Control; Control theory; Controllers; Converters; Dynamical Systems; Energy conversion efficiency; Energy efficiency; Energy flow; Energy transmission; Engineering; Engines; Industrial and Production Engineering; Loaders; Mechanical Engineering; Powertrain; Powertrains; Product design; Simulation; Speed control; Torque; Torque converters; Vibration; 기계공학; Automated manual transmission (AMT); Advanced powertrain; Engine control; V-pattern working; Clutch control; Driver model
• ISSN: 1738-494X; 1976-3824
• DOI: 10.1007/s12206-016-0602-y

This paper describes an investigation of energy efficiency by applying an advanced powertrain system in a conventional wheel loader. A conventional powertrain of a wheel loader consists of an engine, torque converter and transmission. A torque converter in a conventional system generally causes a significant amount of energy loss, as determined by analyzing energy flow based on V-pattern working. To prevent energy loss in a torque converter, Automated manual transmission (AMT) was proposed and modeled in this paper as an advanced powertrain. A wheel loader based on AMT does not need to use a torque converter since the single clutch system is used between the engine and transmission with subsystems of engine controller, clutch actuator and controller. A simplified single clutch system and controller were constructed for V-pattern working of a wheel loader. Additionally, a PI-controller was used as a control algorithm for engine speed control to prevent energy loss while the clutch is not engaged. All simulation models have been constructed in the Matlab/ Simulink environment, and simulation studies were conducted by using a simulation model of a wheel loader with a driver model based on V-pattern working. Simulation results of the AMT-based wheel loader were analyzed by comparison with the results of the torque converter-based wheel loader, and the results show that the AMT-based wheel loader is more energy efficient than the conventional wheel loader.