A dynamometer is an apparatus that measures

mechanical force i.e. frictional resistance.

Knowing the frictional resistance, we may obtain

The torque transmitted
The power of engine
 Types of Dynamometer
Basic types:
 Absorption Dynamometer
 Transmission Dynamometer
 Driving Dynamometer
Some Other Types are:
 Water Brake Dynamometer
 Eddy Current Dynamometer
 D.C. Dynamometer
 A.C. Dynamometer
 Absorption Dynamometer
 In absorption dynamometer, the entire power
produced by the engine is absorbed by the friction
resistances & is transformed into heat during the
process of measurement.

 Good for power systems as they measure power of

generators, electric motor, turbines & engines.
 Types of Absorption Dynamometer

 Prony Brake Dynamometer

 Rope Brake Dynamometer
 Inductor Dynamometer
 Rope Brake Dynamometer
 It is simplest form of
absorption dynamometer
as shown in figure;

 A rope is wound round a

large wheel called brake
drum pulley coupled to the
shaft whose power is to be
measured.
 Explanation
The rope is attached to a spring balance at one end to a
deadweight W at the other end.
 The torque is T = (W-S) r
S = reading of spring balance
r = the effective radius
r = (D + d) / 2
 The power is P = 2πNT/60

 Horse power H.P. = 2πN (W – S) r / 735 ҳ 60

 Advantages & Disadvantages
Advantages
 Simple in operation & easy to make
 Suitable for measurement of wide range of power
 Steadier in operation & requires no lubrication
Disadvantages
 Output of driving machine is dissipated as heat
 Do not stabilize the speed of machine under test as
there is no increase in torque with increase of speed
 Prony Dynamometer
 A rather old device like
the rope brake for the
measurement of torque
and power from
machines; as shown in
figure
 Transmission Dynamometer
 In transmission dynamometer, principle involved is
that the power measured being transmitted either to
or from the dynamometer is not absorbed or
dissipated.
 The power after measurement is available in useful
mechanical or electrical form
 Types of Transmission Dynamometer

 Epicyclic – train Dynamometer

 Belt transmission Dynamometer
 Torsion Dynamometer
Torque measurements on (Transmission Dynamometer)
 Water Brake Dynamometer
 The schematic shows the most
common type of water brake, the
variable level type.

 Water is added until the engine is

held at a steady rpm against the load.
Water is then kept at that level and
replaced by constant draining and
refilling, which is needed to carry
away the heat created by absorbing
the horsepower (which in itself is a
measure of power output of the
engine). The housing attempts to
rotate in response to the torque
produced but is restrained by the
scale or torque metering cell which
measures the torque.
Water Brake Dyno Setup
 Advantages & Disadvantages
Advantages:
 Low Cost
 Low Inertia
Disadvantages:
 Difficult to Control
 High Maintenance
 Eddy Current Dynamometer
• The eddy current dynamometer
shown generates electrical
currents by rotating a disk in a
magnetic field.
• The resultant currents are
dissipated inside the machine.
• An electrical input allows the
user to dictate the strength of
the field and thus amount of
dissipation for a given speed.
Eddy Current Dyno Setup
 Advantages & Disadvantages

Advantages
 The speed-torque characteristics make the eddy current
dynamometer ideal for engine testing, and its versatility also
allows effective use in testing transmissions, turbines, electric
motors, gears, pumps and many other machines
 Precise Control & Low Maintenance
 Widely accepted in the automotive industry
Disadvantages
 High Inertia
 Moderate Cost
 D.C. Dynamometer
 D.C. Electric type
dynamometers so called
Cradled dynamometer are
widely used for power &
torque measurement of IC
engines & other mechanical
equipments
 The basic arrangement is
shown in figure:
Some facts:
 The D.C. machine can act as both generator and
motor. Thus , the D.C. machine can act both as
absorption dynamometer and a transmission
dynamometer
 When D.C. machine is made to work as a dc motor, it
acts as driving dynamometer
D.C. Absorption Dynamometer
Electrical Dynamometer Setup

(showing engine, torque measurement arrangement and tachometer)

Explanation
 Fig shows d.c. generator which act as absorption
dynamometer. The generator is mounted on low friction
trunnion bearings & is driven by test machine (IC engine).
The rotation is opposed when load is connected to armature
circuit of the D.C. machine.
 The power absorbed by the resistive load is
P = V² / R
V = the output voltage of generator
R = the resistance of the load
 The resisting torque can be controlled by varying either V or
R.
 The range of d.c. dynamometer when used as an absorption
dynamometer is 5000 H.P.
Advantages & Disadvantages
Advantages:
 Fast Response
 Air Cooled (No water required)
 Line Regenerative
Disadvantages:
 High Cost (Dynamometer and Power Amplifier)
 High Inertia
 Requires high amperage electrical service
A.C. Dynamometer
 An AC dynamometer is
similar to a DC
dynamometer except it uses
an AC motor and is powered
by alternating current.
 The important features of
A.C. Dynamometers include
fast response, flexible
control & energy
conservation since 85 % of
the energy absorbed is
returned back to the power
lines.
Advantages & Disadvantages
Advantages:
 Very Low Inertia
 Very Fast Response
 Line Regenerative
Disadvantages:
 High Cost
 Requires high amperage electrical service
 Servo Controlled Dynamometer
 In this arrangement an engine of an automobile is
automatically controlled using D.C. dynamometer. Tape
recordings of engine torque and speed under actual
driving conditions are utilized to reproduce these
conditions in Lab.
 The dynamometer has a load cell which has strain
gauges. The output of the strain gauges bridge is
proportional to the actual torque.