The PurdueTracer: An Energy-Efficient Human-Powered Hydraulic Bicycle with Flexible Operation and Software Aids

Gianluca Marinaro, Zhuangying Xu, Zhengpu Chen, Chenxi Li, Yizhou Mao and Andrea Vacca
Additional contact information
Gianluca Marinaro: Department of Industrial Engineering, University Federico II, 80100 Naples, Italy
Zhuangying Xu: School of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47906, USA
Zhengpu Chen: Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47906, USA
Chenxi Li: Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47906, USA
Yizhou Mao: School of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47906, USA
Andrea Vacca: School of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47906, USA

Energies, 2018, vol. 11, issue 2, 1-24

Abstract: Hydrostatic transmissions (HT) are widely applied to heavy-duty mobile applications because of the advantages of layout flexibility, power to weight ratio, and ease of control. Though applications of fluid power in light-duty vehicles face challenges, including the unavailability of off-the-shelf components suitable to the power scale, there are potential advantages for HTs in human-powered vehicles, such as bicycles, the most important one being the energy-saving advantage achievable through regenerative braking in a hybrid HT. This paper describes an innovative design for a hydraulic hybrid bicycle, i.e., the PurdueTracer. The PurdueTracer is an energy-efficient human-powered hydraulic bicycle with flexible operation and software aids. An open-circuit hydraulic hybrid transmission allows PurdueTracer to operate in four modes: Pedaling, Charging, Boost, and Regeneration, to satisfy users’ need for different riding occasions. An aluminum chassis that also functions as a system reservoir was customized for the PurdueTracer to optimize the durability, riding comfort, and space for components. The selection of the hydraulic components was performed by creating a model of the bicycle in AMESim simulation software and conducting a numerical optimization based on the model. The electronic system equipped users with informative feedback showing the bicycle performance, intuitive execution of functions, and comprehensive guidance for operation. This paper describes the design approach and the main results of the PurdueTracer, which also won the 2017 National Fluid Power Association Fluid Power Vehicle Challenge. This championship serves to prove the excellence of this vehicle in terms of effectiveness, efficiency, durability, and novelty.

Keywords: hydrostatic transmission; hydraulic hybrid; light-duty system; energy recovery; software interface; computer-aided monitoring; Internet of Things (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/11/2/305/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/11/2/305/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jeners:v:11:y:2018:i:2:p:305-:d:129578

Access Statistics for this article

Energies is currently edited by Ms. Agatha Cao

More articles in Energies from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().