The H7-600E diesel-electric rotary combine was a big hit on the Agritechnica stand of Chinese manufacturer Zoomlion.
The hybrid technique sees a 480hp six-cylinder Chinese Stage V block mated to a generator that powers a dozen electric motors. The most visible is the one driving the 9.2m header, but inside and underneath the combine are electric motors for numerous functions including the front and rear axles, feeder house, threshing drum, and fan.
The generator also supplies electricity to an on-board 11.5kWh battery. The power curve of an engine is up and down. The idea with the direct-drive concept is to charge the battery when the full power of the engine is not needed. When extra power is required, the engine takes it from the battery, increasing the rated 480hp to a maximum of 600hp.
The 11,500-litre grain tank unloads at 110lit/second. The fuel tank holds 780 litres, ands the H7-600E is available with header widths from 7.6-9.2m.
The plus side of this is the engine always operates at maximum efficiency and is not subjected to peak power surges. Zoomlion says that running the engine in a spectrum that is kinder to it helps prolong operating life.
With 70% fewer transmission components, performance data with the hybrid combine points to 20% higher efficiency, a 30% reduction in operator workload, 50% improved reliability and 30% lower energy consumption.
Other benefits include being able to adjust the speeds of the internal workings, such as the fan, from the cab. This is something that could be automated in the future to allow the combine to work autonomously.
Top speed is 40km/hr, and there are two rotors. The first has a 600mm diameter and a length of 1.44m. The diameter of the second is 445mm diameter and length 4.2m. The total cleaning area is 4.48m².
Already available in China, the combine is on its way to North America for tests and the plan is to have a model in European fields next year. In China, Zoomlion Agriculture Machinery Co, as it is officially called, also offers diesel powered combines. These range from the smaller F6-3000 to the larger 580hp H8-6000, which we are told can be coupled to a 15m in-house made header.
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