ELECTRIC DRIVE SYSTEM POWERED BY Li-ION BATTERIES FOR AQUATIC BIOMASS HARVESTER

Abstract

The development of an electric vehicle harvester for aquatic vegetation is a technical challenge for researchers due to specific requirements: high-torque operation at low travel speeds, high maneuverability, high load capacity, low draught, and affordable price. The collective of authors proposed an electro-hydraulic architecture based on paddles driven by hydraulic motors for propulsion and auxiliary services also driven by motors and hydraulic actuators. The proposed energy source for the aquatic harvester is electric batteries, it was developed a system of 33 kWh Li-Ion batteries connected in parallel, which power an electronic converter and a 14.5 kW rated power electric motor that drives a hydraulic double-circuit pump. The vehicle can be controlled remotely. The paper presents the prototype made and the results obtained during laboratory tests performed for the electric powering system.