The most common engine used in agriculture is the four-stroke, direct injection engine.
Nicolaus August Otto, the co-founder of “N.A. Otto & Cie”, which is now known as DEUTZ AG, successfully pioneered the development of a gaseous fuel, compressed charge four stroke cycle. This is referred to as the Otto cycle and remains the foundation for powering most engines today.
A four-stroke engine is what most of our personal vehicles are driven by, and the term refers to the way the combustion engine produces energy to drive the wheels: intake, compression, power and exhaust strokes.
In the internal combustion engine, pistons turn the crankshaft. They need an energy force to make them do this, which is provided in four separate strokes.
- Intake: The piston creates negative pressure to draw in a mixture of air and fuel into the cylinder.
- Compression: The air-fuel mixture is compressed in preparation for ignition.
- Combustion: The compressed air-fuel mixture is ignited by a spark plug (in petrol engines) or by heat generated by high compression (in diesel engines).
- Exhaust: The spent air-fuel mixture is expelled through the exhaust port.
Direct injection is the use of compressed air instead of spark plugs to generate combustion in the cylinder. Diesel engines use highly compressed hot air which is heated to 1022°C, while the fuel injector sends fuel into the chamber where it is atomised and dispersed evenly. The contact of fuel with compressed air creates combustion gases, providing the energy required to turn the crankshaft.
Direct injection enables a more precise control over the air-fuel mixture, which means optimal ratios and greater efficiency of combustion, which in turn delivers better fuel efficiency and lower emissions.
Furthermore, these efficiencies enhance the power and torque, making a direct injection diesel engine more suited to heavy-duty machinery.
Whilst in general, a four-stroke direct injection diesel engine is the most efficient and practical engine for the agricultural sector, it is a broad category and there are many variations available. Different manufacturers may focus on exclusive technologies that may be specific to certain requirements.
A four-stroke, direct injection diesel engine delivers higher thermal energy which provides precise fuel delivery and efficient combustion, in turn leading to greater fuel efficiency, increased power output and reduced emissions — all desirable advantages for the agricultural sector.
DEUTZ diesel engines are well-known for their top-quality, reliability, and long-lasting performance. Our engines are specifically designed for agricultural applications, boasting reliability, sturdiness, compactness, and fuel efficiency. Additionally, our expertise in exhaust after-treatment and system integration allows us to customise DEUTZ engines to suit your equipment’s specific needs. DEUTZ Australia’s Sales and Technical Support Teams are ready to collaborate with you to tailor a diesel engine solution that perfectly matches your agricultural machinery requirements. Whether you need to power tractors, pumps, or harvesters, we have you covered!