Estimation of carbon-oxide emissions of tractors during operation and correlation with the not-to-exceed zone

• From the environmental point of view, it is important that tractors operate economically.
• Data on fuel consumption and CO2 and CO emissions are obtained from the engine control unit.
• Data acquired through the shown method can help operating the engine in a more rational way.
• Correlations between tractor CO2 and CO emissions and the NTE zone are developed.

The continuing rise in fossil fuel use significantly aggravates global warming problems because of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. This article shows a procedure to indirectly obtain data concerning the environmental pollution of a tractor by starting from direct data. The research confirms that qualitative indicators of a tractor's work for an operational period could be identified from a database compiled from engine processors. The average work rate of tractors measured under field conditions, together with the operating time in an engine's work mode, fuel consumption, and CO2 and CO emissions, have been measured. Correlations between CO2 and CO emissions and the NTE (not-to-exceed) zones during a tractor's operational period have also been determined. The study showed that the tractors worked, on average, 51% of the operational period with the engine working modes within the NTE zone. While working in these modes, the tractors consumed approximately 73.4% of the fuel used for the whole operational period, and emitted into the environment approximately 76% of the CO2 and 9.7% of the CO of the emissions of the whole operational period. It was found that there are possibilities to reduce fuel consumption and CO2 and CO emissions during tractor operational periods by improving the tractor's operation by choosing engine work modes in a more rational way.