Co-simulation and consumption analysis of wheel loader on negative loading condition

Xu-dong YAN，Jing YANG，Long QUAN

(Key Lab of Advanced Transducers and Intelligent Control System，Ministry of Education and Shanxi Province，Taiyuan University of Technology，Taiyuan 030024，China)

1 Introduction

As one of the most used machines in construction projects，wheel loader has the problems of high fuel consumption and serious emissions.Some relevant researches about the engine，converter，driveline［1-2］and stem heat balance technique［3-5］have been conducted to reduce energy consumption.As the significant part of the loader，the power of hydraulic system accounts for about 70%of the rated power of the engine.Currently，wheel loader’s hydraulic system generally uses constant displacement pump which is supposed to consume large energy，so it is important to improve the efficiency of hydraulic system.The existing system needs to be analyzed to accept the energy losses during operation.

Although some researches have been done to study the energy consumption of loader’s hydraulic system，these studies are short of quantified experimental results.Moreover，the studies about energy consumption of each part is discontinuous.For instance，Wang［6］and Zhang［7-8］conducted some researches about hydraulic system of wheel loader by using simulation software.

Firstly，the co-simulation model of wheel loader is established by using SimulationX software in this paper.The precision of co-simulation model of the working device could be verified through the comparison between simulation results and test results，and the energy consumption of the hydraulic system driving the working device in the work cycle is analyzed under negative loading condition.The research methods could be used for further research and comparisons for the operating characteristics and energy consumption of different hydraulic circuits，and it also can be used to guide the design of the hydraulic system and its practical operation.

2 Simulation analysis

The actions of insertion，spading and handling of wheel loader are achieved by means of the operation of working device.The common working device of wheel loader in domestic and foreign is six-bar linkage.The research object in this paper is a small wheel loader.The actual size of each part is surveyed and mapped firstly，including the bucket，boom，rocker，boom cylinder，linkage，et al.Moreover，three-dimensional geometric model of each parts is built and assembled based on their relative position and motion situation by Pro/E software.The three-dimensionalgeometric model of wheel loader is shown in Fig.1(a).

The hydraulic system of whole machine is given in Fig.1(b).Currently，the small type wheel loader usually adopts load sensing hydraulic steering system.The action of boom cylinder and rocker cylinder in wheel loader’s working device is controlled by multiway valve block.The difficult point of multi-way valve is the relationship between the displacement of spool and the flow area of valve during modeling.So each part of multi-way valve is surveyed and mapped firstly.The geometry model of rocker control valve is shown in Fig.2(a).The type of throttling groove in valve core is U.The relationship between the displacement of spool and the flow area of valve is given in Fig.2(b).

The simulation study of steering and walking during working involves the model of tire-ground.In addition，due to the limitation of the built model，only the following operations will be studied in this paper:insert，bucket upturning，boom rising，bucket down，boom falling and bucket return.

The SimulationX software is an open platform，and it provides certain interfaces to connect with other software.Frist of all，the geometric model of wheel loader was converted into format of stl.Then，it can be introduced into SimulationX by CAD Import interface module.At last，the quality，moment of inertia and coordinate of centroid is set up.In addition，the multibody kinetic model of wheel loader was built by setting the relative position between two connectors which are connected by revolute joint module.The kinetic model of wheel loader is given in sectionⅠof Fig.3.

Fig.1 Geometric model and hydraulic system

Fig.2 Geometry model and flow area of rocker valve

The boom and rocker control valve model and the priority valve model can be connected with the pump and cylinder model by hydraulic tube model according to hydraulic system schematic.So，a complete hydraulic system model can be achieved.It is given in sectionⅡof Fig.3.Finally，the kinetic model of wheel loader could be combined with hydraulic system model through hydraulic cylinder model.The co-simulation model of the working device is shown in Fig.3.

Fig.3 Co-simulation model of wheel loader

All the forces acting on the working device in the course of work should be defined and calculated before the simulation.During one work cycle，the external force of wheel loader can be reduced toFx，F(xiàn)zandGw.Force analysis of wheel loader working device is given in Fig.4.The insertion resistanceFxcould be calculated by equation(1).

Where，F(xiàn)xrepresents insertion resistance，N;K1represents coefficient of bulk and loose degree;K2represents coefficient of material density;K3represents coefficient of material height impact;K4represents coefficient of bucket shape;Brepresents bucket width，m;Lrepresents insertion depth of bucket，m.

The spading resistanceFzcould be calculated by equation(2)

Where，F(xiàn)zrepresents spading resistance，N;BKrepresents bucket width，m;Lrepresents insertion depth of bucket，m;Kτrepresents shear resistance of material when bucket begin to rise，Pa.

Fig.4 Force analysis of wheel loader working device

The curve of resistance on working device in the course of work are shown in Fig.5.All the abovementioned forces will be loaded by body Force module in SimulationX software.The action point and direction of all forces can be set by position coordinates.The actual forces on working device can be simulated accurately finally.

Fig.5 Resistance of working device

3 Test analysis

The displacement sensor and pressure sensor are installed on wheel loader’s working device without changing its structure and performance.The instruments used during test process are mainly include:displacement sensor，pressure sensor and econ Type MI-7016 date acquisition analyzer.The displacement and pressure value of each cylinder，the pressure in pump outlet and inlet of multi-way valve are measured by the above sensors.The test pavement is concrete and the materials are massive sand and stone.The test is under negative loading condition:put 600 kg sand and stone on the bucket of loader and its centroid de-viation from bucket’s center by 400 mm.The test of wheel loader typical condition is shown in Fig.6.

Fig.6 Test of wheel loader typical condition

4 Simulation and test results

The simulation and test results of each pressure detecting point under negative loading condition during continuous operation process is shown in Fig.7.It could be seen from this figure that at the period from 0.0 s to 2.5 s，the process of bucket upturning，pressure in rocker cylinder non rod side and pump outlet get increased.Moreover，there are some pressure fluctuations;at the period from 2.5 s to 3.5 s，the rocker control valve returns to neutral;at the period from 3.5 s to 9.3 s，the boom begins to ascend until unloading height.Due to interference action，rocker cylinder has a tendency to shrink which leads to the pressure in boom cylinder non rod side reach to 18 MPa.So，the load compensation valve starts unloading;at the period from 9.3 s to 11 s，the boom control valve returns to neutral;at the period from 11 s to 14 s，the bucket down and the operation of unloading has carried out;at the period from 14 s to 15 s，the rocker control valve returns to neutral;at the period from 15 s to 17.2 s，the process of bucket upturning and the bucket reaches to the initial position;at the period from 17.2 s to 18 s，the rocker control valve returns to neutral;at the period from 18 s to 22 s，the boom falls and the working cycle is over.

Fig.7 Simulation and test results under negative loading condition

5 Energy analysis

Since the test does not measure the pump outlet flow，the pump outlet powerPbwill be calculated by equation(3).

The powerPyconsumed by rocker cylinder during working process could be calculated by equation(4).While the power consumed by boom cylinder could be evaluated by the following equation(4).

Where，Pbrepresents output power of pump，kW;Pprepresents the outlet pressure of pump during working process，MPa;Ay，Adrepresent the high pressure chamber effective area of rocker and boom cylinder，mm2;VyandVdrepresent the speed of rocker and boom cylinder，respectively，mm/s，which could be obtained by the displacement of rocker cylinder during working process，kW;PBirepresents the pressure of the high pressure chamber，MPa;ABirepresents the effective area of the high pressure chamber，mm2;PAirepresents the pressure of the low pressure chamber，MPa;AAirepresents the effective area of the low pressure chamber，mm2;Virepresents speed of cylinder，mm/s.

The power change under unbalance loading condition is given in Fig.8.As shown in this figure，at the beginning of working，the power of pump is relatively small.During the process of bucket upturn，the power of pump gets increased and generates a large fluctuation.During the process of boom rising，the power of pump gets increased and generates fluctuation as well.However，during the process of boom failing，the power of pump is small.

Fig.8 Power change under unbalance loading condition

The output power of every element in hydraulic system could be calculated by using power integration module which is built in SimulationX.The testing results show that，under negative loading condition，the power of working device accounts for about 27%of the total output power of pump，energy loss in priority valve accounts for about 16% and energy loss in multi-way valve account for about 52%.The important energy loss in loader’s working hydraulic system using constant displacement pump is the large throttling loss of multi-way valve.

6 Conclusions

Energy consumption of each part in hydraulic system of working device has been studied in this paper by co-simulation and test analysis.

Under a negative loading condition，the power of working device accounts for about 27%of the total output power of pump，energy loss in priority valve accounts for about 16%and energy loss in multi-way valve’s export，import and its center position totally account for about 52%.

The important energy loss in loader’s working hydraulic system using constant displacement pump is the large throttling loss of multi-way valves.So，unloading losses could be eliminated if a load sensitive variable pump is used.This study could provide the basis for designing energy-efficient hydraulic control system of wheel loader.

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