Fuel efficiency analysis of selected hydraulic hybrids in a wheel loader application

There is a potential for significant improvement on fuel efficiency of many mobile machines by using hybrid technology as the Diesel engines are often driven at very inefficient operating points in these applications. The load generated by the working hydraulics of a mobile machine is often rapidly changing and contains high peak powers compared to the mean power required. This paper studies three different hydraulic hybrids in a wheel loader application. The study is based on a measured sand-loading Y-cycle. In addition to the hybrid systems, a load sensing proportional valve based reference machine and a modified machine based on independent metering valves are analyzed. All five system alternatives are analyzed systematically to enable a comparison of their fuel efficiency. The study shows that the fuel consumption of the machine can be decreased up to 28 % in such load cycle by using a suitable hydraulic hybrid system.