Effect of Intake Water Injection on Fuel Efficiency and Performance of an Agricultural Diesel Engine

The article presents the results of experimental investigations and regression-based analysis on the influence of a water injection system on the fuel efficiency and performance of diesel engines used in agricultural machine–tractor units. The need to improve fuel economy and operating efficiency is driven by increasing energy costs and the growing demand for more efficient agricultural machinery. The study focuses on the application of water injection into the intake manifold as a method for improving fuel consumption and engine operating performance under laboratory and field conditions. Experimental investigations were carried out on a Deutz 1000.3 W diesel engine under laboratory and field conditions. The engine was tested on a dynamometer, and field tests were performed using a Deutz-Fahr Agrolux 80 (SDF Group, Treviglio, Italy) tractor powered by the tested Deutz engine and coupled with an Amazone D9-20 Super (AMAZONEN-WERKE H. DREYER SE & Co. KG, Hasbergen-Gaste, Germany) seeder. The seeder was used as a trailed agricultural implement and did not have its own engine. The optimal water-to-fuel ratio was found to be 27–32%, ensuring a balance between increased engine power and reduced fuel consumption. The use of water injection reduced fuel consumption by 10–15%, increased effective engine power by up to 19%, and improved traction performance under field conditions. The novelty of this study lies in the adaptation and experimental evaluation of intake water injection for an agricultural diesel engine operating as part of a machine–tractor unit. Particular attention was paid to the relationship between the water-to-fuel ratio, fuel consumption, engine performance, and traction characteristics under laboratory and field conditions. The results demonstrate that water injection provides a cost-effective and technically feasible solution for improving fuel economy and operating performance of agricultural diesel engines without requiring significant modifications to existing designs. Potential environmental benefits may be associated with reduced diesel fuel consumption. However, emissions were not the main experimental focus of the present study and should be investigated separately in future work.