TY - GEN
T1 - Biomethane as tractor fuel
T2 - 75th Conference on Agricultural Engineering, LAND TECHNIK AgEng 2017
AU - Hannukainen, Petri
AU - Åman, Rafael
N1 - Funding Information:
Authors would like to thank all research personnel in MEKA and BioMeTrak projects. A major contribution related to RNG tractor development in past decade has been given by Mr. Tapio Riipinen from Afcon Oy. Finally, authors want to dedicate this paper to memory of Mr. Hannu Niskanen, who made remarkable career at Valtra tractors in different positions and countries during 1971-2011. Mr. Niskanen published several books related to tractor technology as well documenting history of Valtra company and products. One of last projects Mr. Niskanen started before retirement was the development of RNG operated tractor.
Publisher Copyright:
© VDI Verlag GmbH · Düsseldorf 2017.
PY - 2017
Y1 - 2017
N2 - Farming is today dependent on fossil energy. Agricultural machinery uses mostly fossil diesel as engine fuel. Also heating and electrics of farm facilities are direct energy consumption of food production that is at least partly based on fossil energy. Production of agrochemicals consume large amount of energy which is mostly produced by fossil fuel. Additionally, agrochemicals use many raw materials that have limited natural resources, like phosphorus. In general, the whole food production chain, including machinery, heating and electrics of farm facilities, production of agrochemicals, is at least partly based on fossil energy. Due to increased usage and unit costs, energy has become a major cost of food production. Thereby energy consumption as overall is important to optimize in food production to guarantee its viability but also sustainability. Nowadays the CO2 emissions of non-road mobile machinery (NRMM) are not controlled by legislation. However, the machines’ fuel efficiency is important marketing factor that drives the development. Reduction potential of CO2 emission when using combustion engine as main energy source of vehicle is limited to rather modest ratio. Development in different components and vehicle operation can gain some improvement in total efficiency. By switching to the renewable fuel the reduction in CO2 emissions reduction can be dramatic. This paper considers different aspects of the farm energy consumption and how biogas production can influence to it. Specifically, how tractor operation can benefit of renewable natural gas (RNG - also biomethane) availability. Finally, the experiences of Agco/Valtra on tractors running on RNG are discussed.
AB - Farming is today dependent on fossil energy. Agricultural machinery uses mostly fossil diesel as engine fuel. Also heating and electrics of farm facilities are direct energy consumption of food production that is at least partly based on fossil energy. Production of agrochemicals consume large amount of energy which is mostly produced by fossil fuel. Additionally, agrochemicals use many raw materials that have limited natural resources, like phosphorus. In general, the whole food production chain, including machinery, heating and electrics of farm facilities, production of agrochemicals, is at least partly based on fossil energy. Due to increased usage and unit costs, energy has become a major cost of food production. Thereby energy consumption as overall is important to optimize in food production to guarantee its viability but also sustainability. Nowadays the CO2 emissions of non-road mobile machinery (NRMM) are not controlled by legislation. However, the machines’ fuel efficiency is important marketing factor that drives the development. Reduction potential of CO2 emission when using combustion engine as main energy source of vehicle is limited to rather modest ratio. Development in different components and vehicle operation can gain some improvement in total efficiency. By switching to the renewable fuel the reduction in CO2 emissions reduction can be dramatic. This paper considers different aspects of the farm energy consumption and how biogas production can influence to it. Specifically, how tractor operation can benefit of renewable natural gas (RNG - also biomethane) availability. Finally, the experiences of Agco/Valtra on tractors running on RNG are discussed.
KW - Biomethane
KW - tractors
KW - Biogas production
KW - Alternative fuels
KW - dual-fuel
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85106054504&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.51202/9783181023006-355
DO - 10.51202/9783181023006-355
M3 - Conference article in proceedings
AN - SCOPUS:85106054504
SN - 978-3-18-092300-0
T3 - VDI-Berichte
SP - 355
EP - 365
BT - Land.Technik AgEng 2017
PB - VDI Verlag GmbH
CY - Düsseldorf
Y2 - 10 November 2017 through 11 November 2017
ER -
