Open Ended Lab

Objectives:
 To determine the Indicated Horsepower (IHP) of an IC engine using test bench apparatus
available.
 To analyze the effect of varying speed on Indicated Horsepower (IHP).
 Compare Indicated Horsepower (IHP) with Brake Horsepower(BHP) at varying engine
speed.

Introduction:
Indicated Horsepower(IHP) is actually the measure of extent of engine capability to combust air-
fuel mixture into mechanical power and variation in vehicle speed on the road today is a very
common occurrence.
Furthermore, currently IC Engines are not capable of producing 100% power at output shaft
utilizing the available air fuel mixture that is the power developed inside the engine
cylinder(IHP) does not reach completely and successfully at wheels as BHP < IHP. The main
reason is the friction produced due to mechanical components and other components used within
the vehicle power transmission system.
So it is essential to understand the influence of variation in engine speed on Indicated Horse
power as well as how variation in speed affects Brake Horsepower as compared to indicated
Horsepower. So in this lab first brake horse is calculated and then indicated horsepower(IHP).

Indicated Horsepower(IHP):
Indicated Horsepower (IHP) is simply a measure of the
total potential horsepower the engine is capable of
developing. It is also defined as power developed inside
engine cylinder due to combustion of air fuel mixture.
Mathematically,
IHP = (Pm* A*L*n*k) / 60
[units: watt]
Where, Pm is Indicated mean effective pressure (N/m2), A is
area of piston (m2), L is stroke length of piston (m), k is
number of cylinders, n is N (rpm of driveshaft) and N/2
for 02 and 04 strokes engines respectively.
Factors influencing Indicated Horsepower(IHP): Figure 1 Various Powers Developed in IC Engine

Indicated Horsepower(IHP) generally depends mainly on:

 Indicated Mean Effective Pressure (IMEP)
 Speed of Engine(N)
Brake Horsepower(BHP):
Brake Horsepower (BHP) was created to account for the losses that occurs during power
transmission from Engine Cylinder to vehicle’s wheels and is the actual measured output of the
engine.

Mathematically: BHP = 2πNT / 60 [units: watt]

Torque = T = R*F
Where, R is moment arm and F is brake load and N is rpm.

Relationship between Indicated Horsepower(IHP) & Brake Horsepower(BHP):

BHP is related with IHP such that Brake Horsepower is always less than Indicated Horse Power
mainly due to the friction, following are some of sources of friction:
Friction between cylinder and piston rings.
Friction between rotary engine components.
Friction on valve opening & Closing Mechanism.
That is why BHP<IHP, more specifically BHP is about 15%-30% less than IHP.

Experimental Procedure:
BHP Measurement:
1. Ensure that the auxiliary devices and also the utilities required to successfully operate and
take readings on engine test bench are available.
2. Now setup a dynamometer on the engine Flywheel and check whether or not it is still in
working conditions.
3. Start the engine after ensuring adequate oil level of engine is maintained as well as the
fuel availability in fuel tank.
4. After the engine is started, let it warm up for about 5 minutes so that it can starts to
maintain constant operation.
5. Apply the load on the engine by selecting weight from dynamometer selector knob.
6. Now note down the readings from spring balance in terms of weights(kg) and using
moment arm length transform it into torque.
7. Now increase in increments the weight/load on engine.
8. Take at least five readings and note it down in table.
9. And calculate values of Torque(T=W*L) and BHP from the corresponding formulas.
IHP Measurement:
1. Using the engine specification determine the total engine/cylinder displacement (Vd)
using the conventional formula:
Vd = (pi*(d)2*L)/4
Where d: Bore Diameter of the cylinder and L: Stroke length
 2. Utilizing the experimentally determined Engine torque (T) and above calculated Vd find
the Indicated mean effective pressure Pm using the given below formula:
Pm = BMEP/Engine Mechanical Efficiency
Where BMEP: Brake Mean Effective Pressure and
3. Now calculate Indicated horsepower using the formula:
IHP = (Pm* A*L*n*k) / 60

Observations & Calculations:

Salient features of Engine installed on the test bench are as under:
No of = k =1
Cylinder
Stroke =L=
Length 120 mm = 0.12m
Diameter. of =d=
Cylinder 90 mm = 0.09 m
bore
Radius of =r=
Fly Wheel 239 mm = 0.239 m
Torque Arm =R=
Constant 0.239 m
Engine = n = 0.45
Efficiency

Cylinder Displacement Vd Cylinder Cross-sectional Area A

Vd = (πd2L)/4 A = (πd2)/4
Vd = 0.000763 m3 A = 0.006362 m2
n =N/2 (4 Stroke Engine)

Sr. Speed Load n Torque BHP = BMEP IMEP = IHP=

N (kg) =N/2 = W*R 2πNT / = 4πT / BMEP / (IMEP*L*A*n*k)/60
(rpm) (rpm) (Nm) 60 Vd 0.45
(watt) (Pa) (Watt) (Watt)

1. 820 10 210 23.4459 2263.304 386146.7 858103.7 4476.59

2. 1150 9.5 375 22.27361 2932.36 366839.3 815198.5 5964.237
3. 1636 9 618 21.10131 3865.109 347532 772293.3 8038.208
4. 1865 8.5 732.5 19.92902 4142.184 328224.7 729388.1 8654.285
5. 2055 8 827.5 18.75672 4286.43 308917.3 686483 8975.016
6. 2242 7.5 921 17.58443 4378.501 289610 643577.8 9179.738
7. 2387 7 993.5 16.41213 4352.476 270302.7 600672.6 9121.87
8. 2539 6.5 1069.5 15.23984 4302.02 250995.3 557767.4 9009.683
 9. 2667 6 1133.5 14.06754 4178.89 231688 514862.2 8735.901
10. 2810 5.5 1205 12.89525 4044.588 212380.7 471957 8437.28
11. 2960 5 1280 11.72295 3883.769 193073.3 429051.8 8079.698
12. 3074 4.5 1337 10.55066 3646.346 173766 386146.7 7551.788

INFLUENCE OF VARYING COMPARISON OF IHP &

RPM ON IHP BHP AT VARYING RPM
IHP BHP IHP

10000 10000

POWER (WATT)
POWER (WATT)

8000 8000
6000 6000
4000 4000
2000 2000
0 0
0 1000 2000 3000 4000 0 1000 2000 3000 4000
SPEED (RPM) SPEED (RPM)

Comments:

 The above graph shows that initially engine pwer increase with increase rpm and then after
maximum power it starts decreasing, one of the reason could be because of the
inefficient filling in of fresh charge (limited by the intake valve timing) at high speeds,
there is insufficient time for intake and the ram effect of incoming charge is not fully
utilised by the time intake valve close.
 Consequently, the energy release and cylinder pressures(IMEP) falls and since IHP is
directly proportional to the IMEP, thus the power decreases.
 Another reason could be because of increase in frictional effects at high speeds.

Conclusion:
 Indicated Horsepower(IHP) is the power developed inside egine cylinder and is calculated
as a function of Indicated Mean effective Pressure(IMEP), engine Speed (N), Number of
Cylinders(k), Stroke Length(L) and Cylinder Bore Diameter(d).
 From the tabulated data and its graphical representation, it is concluded that IHP initially
increases with icreasing acceleration which dictates the engine to close the throttle and
allow rich fuel mixture to enter into the engine cylinder and get burned, this process
continues untill engine achieves engine rated speed based on engine design.
 Secondly, from the data it is verified that at similar operating speed of engine, the Brake
Horsepower is less than Indicated Horsepower.