Quantification and identification of pollutant and greenhouse gases from agricultural tractors using thermal image processing

• Grant number: 25/12917-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: August 01, 2025
• End date: July 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agricultural Engineering - Agricultural Machinery and Implements
• Principal Investigator: Barbara Janet Teruel Mederos
• Grantee: Gabriel de Castro Juraski
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia Agrícola (FEAGRI). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 21/11380-5 - CPTEn - São Paulo Center for the Study of Energy Transition, AP.CCD

Abstract

Agricultural machinery is mostly equipped with Diesel cycle engines, which, despite being more efficient than engines that operate using the Otto cycle, are responsible for emissions of pollutant and greenhouse gases such as CO, CO2, HC and NOx. Current legislation defines pollutant emission limits for vehicles in the agricultural segment. However, there seldom are measurements of the composition of exhaust gases from agricultural tractors in real time. The proposal is to develop a system based on thermal image processing that is able to measure and identify CO, CO2, HC and NOx gases contained in the exhaust flow of a Mahindra agricultural tractor (model 6060, 4x4, 57 HP). The goal is to develop a knowledge base and a proof of concept, which could later advance to the development of an experimental prototype, that can be portable or mounted on agricultural tractors and has a balanced cost-benefit ratio. (AU)