Australian company LINTTAS is poised to revolutionize grain harvesting with their groundbreaking concept for a new combine harvester. By incorporating electrification and a pioneering linear threshing approach, the company promises unprecedented efficiency, speed, and cost-effectiveness, with the potential for up to 30% energy savings.
Initiators Malcolm Lucas and Terry Krieg from South Australia have been working on this concept for the past two years. They have been engaging with government support organizations, researchers, universities, and potential partners from around the world. The next step in their plan is to conduct complex computer simulations to verify and optimize their design before building a prototype.
Malcolm Lucas, who has always had a passion for building things, began working on the idea of an electric combine harvester in 2008. He converted an East German-built Fortschritt 5160 combine model to electric power using off-the-shelf, 3-phase electric motors. Over the years, as the price of components decreased, Lucas realized that an electric combine harvester was a viable proposition. He used his converted harvester successfully on farms in South Australia for nine years, making modifications and upgrades along the way to improve its performance and fuel efficiency.
Now, Lucas and Krieg have founded LINTTAS Electric Company to develop a completely new electric combine harvester based on their previous experience. The company claims to have unique intellectual property based on an energy-efficient, fully electric harvester design. Initially, the harvester will be powered by a diesel generator, but there is potential to convert it to hydrogen power in the future. LINTTAS plans to use induction motors to keep costs low.
LINTTAS is also implementing an innovative grain separation process known as Linear Threshing, Turbulent Air Separation (LINTTAS). This process maximizes the benefits of electrification in the grain separation process within a combine harvester. The company is currently in the process of registering patents for this system.
The goal of LINTTAS is to develop a price competitive harvester that can be manufactured in Australia. They aim to adopt the latest technologies for optimal performance and create a machine that is fully repairable by farmers, using off-the-shelf components wherever possible. The company also plans to apply their electrification technology to other agricultural machinery to transform the sector.
The new electric grain harvester will be adaptable for a range of crop types and conditions, with a focus on beans, peas, wheat, canola, and lentils. The machine will be based on standardized components, making updates and repairs easy. LINTTAS intends to use machine learning and other advanced technologies to maximize yield while reducing operating and whole-of-life costs.
LINTTAS is currently seeking commercial and research partners and collaborators who are interested in changing the current paradigm for the development of agricultural machinery. They are also looking for computer modeling expertise to verify and optimize their concept design.
Malcolm Lucas and Terry Krieg have been invited to present their journey of the electric combine harvester at the international trade fair Agritechnica in Hanover, Germany in November 2023. This provides them with a unique opportunity to showcase their ideas to a global audience at one of the most important agricultural technology events.
The implementation of electrification and the pioneering linear threshing approach in LINTTAS’ new combine harvester concept holds great promise for the future of grain harvesting. If successful, this innovation could transform the industry by offering unprecedented efficiency, energy savings, and cost-effectiveness.