Automotive Engines Module VII 06-04-2018

Automotive Engines
Engine Testing
Module VII

Performance Parameters
 Power
 The rate at which the work is done
 Two types
 Indicated Power – Available at the top of the piston
 Brake Power – Available at the crankshaft end
 Maximum rated power – maximum power
developed for short duration
 Normal rated power – maximum power developed
over full operating range

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Automotive Engines Module VII 06-04-2018

Performance Parameters
 Torque
 Ability of the engine to do the work
 Power and Torque are related as
Power = f (Torque, Speed )
 Rated Speed
 The speed at which the rated power is developed
 Mean Piston Speed
Smps = 2 x Stroke x Speed

Performance Parameters
 Mean Effective Pressure
 Fictitious pressure that, if it acted on
the piston during the entire power
stroke, would produce the same
amount of net work as that produced
during the actual cycle

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Automotive Engines Module VII 06-04-2018

Performance Parameters
 Volumetric Efficiency
 A ratio of what quantity of fuel and air actually
enters the cylinder during induction to the actual
capacity of the cylinder under static conditions
 Can be measured using either volume or mass of
charge

Performance Parameters
 Thermal Efficiency
 Ratio of power output to the energy input
 Two types
 Indicated Thermal Efficiency
 Brake Thermal Efficiency
 Mechanical Efficiency
 Ratio of Brake power to Indicated Power

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Automotive Engines Module VII 06-04-2018

Performance Parameters
 Specific Power Output
 The power output per unit piston area
 Proportional to product of mean piston speed and
mean effective pressure
 Specific Fuel Consumption
 The fuel consumed to produce unit power in unit
time

Volumetric Efficiency
 At lower speeds the VE increases
 As speed increases VE decreases

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Automotive Engines Module VII 06-04-2018

SI Engine Performance
 Wide open throttle
condition
 Frictional power and
volumetric efficiency
affects the power and
mean effective pressure
 BP peaks before the
maximum engine speed

SI Engine Performance

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Automotive Engines Module VII 06-04-2018

CI Engine Performance
 Similar to SI engine
performance
 The bmep curve is almost
flat due to larger intake area

Performance Maps
 Performance of an engine at all load and
speed conditions
 Used to compare engines of different sizes
 Terms used
 Piston speed
 Power per unit piston area
 BMEP
 BSFC

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Automotive Engines Module VII 06-04-2018

Performance Map – SI Engine

 Constant Speed Line
 Moving up – increased
BSFC
 Mixture enrichment
 Moving down – increased
BSFC
 Reduced Mech Effcy
 Constant BMEP line
 Moving right – increased
BSFC
 Increased friction loss
 Moving left – increased
BSFC
 Poor fuel distribution and
increased heat loss

Performance Maps – CI Engine

 At high loads the BSFC
increases due to increased
fuel waste
 At lower loads BSFC
increases due to decreased
mechanical efficiency

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Automotive Engines Module VII 06-04-2018

Heat Balance

Heat Balance

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Automotive Engines Module VII 06-04-2018

Engine Performance Testing

 Parameters to be measured
 Power
 Torque
 Speed
 Fuel consumption
 Volumetric efficiency
 In-cylinder parameters

Engine Performance Testing

 Dynamometer
 Device used to absorb energy by loading the
engine

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Automotive Engines Module VII 06-04-2018

Engine Performance Testing

 Dynamometer Control
 Torque regulation – Torque is set in the
dynamometer and engine speed changes
accordingly
 Speed regulation – Speed is set in the
dynamometer and the engine produces torque
accordingly

Engine Performance Testing

 Types of dynamometer
 Mechanical friction brake dynamometer
 Eddy current dynamometer
 Hydraulic dynamometer
 Electrical dynamometer

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Automotive Engines Module VII 06-04-2018

Engine Performance Testing

 Mechanical Brake Dynamometer
 Uses mechanical friction to absorb power
 Two types
 Rope brake
 Prony brake

Engine Performance Testing

 Mechanical Brake Dynamometer

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Automotive Engines Module VII 06-04-2018

Engine Performance Testing

 Hydraulic Dynamometer
 Dissipates heat in fluid power
 Similar to fluid flywheel
 Output is controlled by controlling the flow of
working fluid, usually water

Engine Performance Testing

 Hydraulic Dynamometer

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Automotive Engines Module VII 06-04-2018

Engine Performance Testing

 Eddy current dynamometer
 Uses electro magnetic
induction for torque
production
 Controlled by varying the
current to the exciting coil
 Capable of producing high
torque at low speeds
 Vulnerable to poor cooling
 Expensive and no motoring
facility

Engine Performance Testing

 Eddy current dynamometer

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Automotive Engines Module VII 06-04-2018

Engine Performance Testing

 Electrical Dynamometer
 Capable of motoring and absorbing
power
 Can be DC or AC type
 DC dyno are controlled by thyristor
based ADC converter
 AC dyno are controlled by varying
the frequency
 Limited max speed

Engine Performance Testing

 Basic Measurements
 Engine speed
 Fuel consumption
 Air consumption
 Brake power
 Indicated and friction power
 Heat going to coolant water
 Heat going to exhaust

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Automotive Engines Module VII 06-04-2018

Engine Performance Testing

 Speed measurement
 Mechanical or electrical
tachometer
 Electrical tachometer is a
three phase permanent
magnet alternator to which
voltmeter is connected
 Magnetic pickup sensors can
be used for accurate and
continuous measurement

Engine Performance Testing

 Friction Power Measurement
 Willan’s line method - for CI engines

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Automotive Engines Module VII 06-04-2018

Engine Performance Testing

 Friction Power Measurement
 Morse test is used for multi-cylinder engines
 The BP of the engine is measured by cutting off each
cylinder in turn
 The FP of the engine is maintained here by
maintaining the speed of the engine
 The IP of each cylinder is calculated first and added
together to get the IP of the engine

Engine Performance Testing

 Fuel Consumption Measurement
 Volume measured using rotameter
 Float in a tapered tube
 Reading affected by viscosity and temperature of fuel
 Volume measured using flow meters
 Reading not affected by viscosity of fuel

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Automotive Engines Module VII 06-04-2018

Engine Performance Testing

 Air Consumption Measurement
 Most common – calibrated orifice or
nozzle
 Pressure drop increases with air
flow rate
 Pressure differential measured with
pressure transducer
 Orifice or nozzle cause slight
restriction to air flow

Engine Performance Testing

 Exhaust Gas Measurement
 Mass of exhaust gas is measured using exhaust
gas calorimeter
 Simple heat exchanger
 Heat from exhaust gas is transferred to circulating
water

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Automotive Engines Module VII 06-04-2018

In Cylinder Measurement
 Combustion Pressure Measurement
 A pressure transducer
 A signal conditioning amplifier
 The angle encoder
 The data acquisition system

In Cylinder Measurement
 Temperature Measurement
 Thermocouples are used
 Measure up to 2600° C

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