Mathematical models to predict fuel consumption criteria under different operating conditions

Estimating the fuel consumption of the tractor when performing various agricultural operations helps improve the productivity of agricultural equipment, so the aim of this research is to design an electronic system to measure fuel consumption as well as evaluate energy requirements under different operating conditions. The field work included many experimental factors, represented by the use of two types of tractors, the first with four-wheel drive and the other with two-wheel drive. Different plowing depths (10, 15, 20, 25 cm) and different engine speeds (1200, 1500, 1800 rpm) were used, as this was applied with three forward speeds of the tractor (Gear1, Gear2, Gear3). The results showed that increasing the engine speed from 1200 to 1800 rpm led to an increase in quantitative fuel consumption (QFC) in each gear (G1, G2, G3) by (24%, 27%, 33%), respectively. Increasing the plowing depth from 10 to 30 cm leads to an increase in quantitative fuel consumption by (10%, 16%, 17%) for (G1, G2, G3), respectively. Increasing the engine speed from 1200 to 1800 rpm increased fuel consumption per unit plowed area (FCPA) by 28%, 11%, and 7%, while increasing the plowing depth from 10 to 30 cm increased fuel consumption by 33%, 21%, and 16% for G1, G2, G3 respectively. The results also showed that changing the type of drive from two-wheel drive to four-wheel drive increased QFC and FCPA by 5% and 25%. The validation of the models were satisfactory, and it demonstrated an accuracy of approximately 95% for predicting QFC rates and 97% for predicting FCPA.