ENGINE PERFORMANCE

• Consider applying a force, F, to a wrench at a radius of

R from the center of a shaft that is to be turned by the
wrench. The torque applied to the shaft thus becomes
FxR.
• In traveling one full revolution, the force travels a
distance equal to the circumference of the circle, 2πR.
• The work per revolution then is Fx2πR, or 2πT, where T
is the shaft torque and equal to F x R.
• Thus, the work per revolution is simply 2π times the
shaft torque, or 2π T.
 ENGINE PERFORMANCE
• Multiplying the work per revolution by the number of
revolutions per unit of time (i.e., the shaft speed) gives
the shaft power.
• Thus, the brake power is given by the following
equation Pb = 2π Tb Ne/ 60,000 [2.4]
where
• Pb = brake (flywheel) power, kW
• Tb = engine brake torque, N.m
• Ne = engine speed, rpm
 ENGINE PERFORMANCE
• The 60,000 in the denominator is simply a units
constant comprising 60 to convert rpm to rps, and
1000 to convert Watts to kW.
• Let us take an example of a CI engine. Assume the
brake torque was 625 N.m at 2200.16 rpm. Then
Equation 2.4 shows that the brake power of the
engine would be 144 kW, because:
Pb = 2π 625 x 2200.16/ 60,000 = 144 kW
 FUEL EQUIVALENT POWER
Now fuel is the source of engine power. The power
embodied in the fuel is called fuel equivalent power or Pfe,
and is given by Pfe = ṁf x LCV/ 3600 ………… 2.1A
where Pfe = fuel equivalent power, kW
ṁf = fuel consumption rate, kg/h
LCV = Lower Calorific Value of the fuel, kJ/kg
For example, an engine consuming 30 kg/h of No. 2 diesel (LCV =
45,000 kJ/kg) would have a Pfe of 375 kW
 FUEL EQUIVALENT POWER
Equation 2.1A is used when fuel consumption is
measured on mass basis. If fuel consumption is
measured volumetrically, the following equation is used
to calculate fuel equivalent power:

Pfe =qf ρf LCV/3600……………………………2.1B

where
qf = fuel consumption rate, L/h
ρf = fuel density, kg/L

.
 ENGINE PERFORMANCE
• Let us say the engine consumed 375 kW of fuel
equivalent power but had only 169.4 kW of indicated
power for all cylinders at the head of the pistons . We
already know that there is only 144 kW of brake power
at the flywheel (given).
• The loss, 375 – 169.4 = 205.6 kW, is primarily caused by
thermodynamic limitations imposed by the second law
of thermodynamics.
 ENGINE PERFORMANCE
• However, the loss, 169.4 – 144 = 25.4 kW, is due to
friction losses in the engine.
• Friction power is given by Pf = Pi − Pb [2.5]
where Pf = friction power, kW.
• Thus, by definition, friction power includes any part of
the indicated power that is not delivered to the
flywheel.
• In our example engine, the friction power would be
25.4 kW.
 ENGINE PERFORMANCE
• What is included in friction power? It includes friction
in the rings, bearings, etc. However, it also includes
power to run the oil pump, cooling fan, alternator, and,
for an air-conditioned vehicle, power to run the
compressor.
• A practical consequence of Equation 2.5 is that, during
an official test, turning off the air conditioner reduces
the friction power and adds to the brake power.
Measuring Engine Performance
Dynamometer
A device used to measure the frictional
torque. This frictional torque is obtained by
applying a brake. Hence a dynamometer is a
brake with a device for measuring the
frictional resistance.
After knowing frictional torque, the power of
the engine can be obtained. Following are
the two types of dynamometers:
(i) Absorption dynamometer
(ii) Transmission dynamometer
 Dynamometers
Absorption dynamometers absorb the
available power in doing work against
friction whereas.
Transmission dynamometers transmit
the available power to some other
machines where the power is suitably
measured.
 Absorption Dynamometer
The following are the important types of
absorption dynamometer
(i) Prony brake dynamometer
(ii) Rope brake dynamometer.
Prony Brake Dynamometer
 Prony Brake Dynamometer
The Prony brake dynamometer consists of two
wooden blocks placed around a pulley fixed to the
shaft of an engine whose power is to be measured.
Each of the wooden blocks covers less than one half of
the pulley rim. The two blocks can be tightened so as
to increase the pressure on the pulley.
The lower block carries an arm or lever to the end of
which a weight W can be applied. A second arm
projects from the block in the opposite direction and
carries a balance weight B, which balances the brake
when unloaded. Two Stops S, S are provided and the
lever arm will float between these stops.
 Prony Brake Dynamometer
For measuring the power of the engine, the
long end of the lever is loaded with a known
weight W. Now the nuts are tightened until the
shaft runs at a constant speed and the lever is
in horizontal position.
Under these conditions, the moment due to
weight will balance the moment of the
frictional resistance between the blocks and
the pulley.
 Prony Brake Dynamometer
Let W = Weight at the end of the lever,
R = Radius of the pulley,
µ = Co-efficient of friction between pulley and
blocks
L = Horizontal distance of weight W from the
centre of the pulley,
N = Speed of the shaft in rpm
Torque on the shaft, T = W x L
Therefore engine Power = Torque x Angular speed
 Prony Brake Dynamometer
=Txω
= T x 2π N/60
Power = W x L x 2π N/60 Watts

From the above equation, it is clear that the

power at the engine is independent of:
• Radius of the pulley, R
• Coefficient of friction between pulley and
wooden blocks and
• Pressure exerted by tightening the nuts
Rope Brake Dynamometer
 Rope Brake Dynamometer
The Rope Brake dynamometer consists of one,
two or more ropes wound round the rim of a
pulley fixed rigidly to the shaft of the engine
whose power is required to be measured. The
upper end of the ropes is attached to a spring
balance (S) while the lower end carries the dead
weight W. The ropes are spaced evenly across the
width the rim by means of three or four wooden
blocks at different points round the rim.
For measuring the power of an engine, the engine
is made to run at constant speed. Under this
condition, the torque transmitted by the engine
must be equal to the frictional torque due to the
ropes.
 Rope Brake Dynamometer
Solved example
• Calculate the brake power of an engine which
is running at a constant speed of 200 rpm, and
is coupled to a rope brake dynamometer. The
dead weight on the engine and spring balance
readings are 60 kg and 102 N respectively. The
diameters of flywheel and rope are 1.3m and
0.5 inch respectively.
 Rope Brake Dynamometer
Solved example
Data N = 200rpm, W= 60kg x 9.80665 m/s2 = 588.399N
S = 102 N, D = 1.3m,
d = 0.5 in x 25.4 = 12.7mm, or 0.0127 m
Brake Power = (W ̶ S) x (D+d)/2 x 2 π N/60 Watts
(588.399 – 102) ((1.3 + 0.0127)/2) x 2 π 200/60)
= (486.399) (0.65635) (20.94395)
= 6,686.314 Watts, or 6.686 kW
 Prony Brake Dynamometer
Practice Q-1

Calculate the brake power of an engine

which is running at a constant speed of
4,000 rpm, and is coupled to a Prony brake
dynamometer. The weight on the lever is
240kg, and length of arm is 2.8 m. The
diameter of the pulley is 1005 mm, while
coefficient of friction between pulley and
blocks is 0.45.
 Rope Brake Dynamometer
Asg Practice Q-2
Calculate the brake power of an engine
which is running at a constant speed of 400
rpm, and is coupled to a rope brake
dynamometer. The dead weight on the
engine and spring balance readings are 675
N and 178 N respectively. The diameters of
flywheel and rope are 1.9m and 0.8268
inches respectively.
 Rope Brake Dynamometer
Practice Q-3

Calculate the brake power of an engine which

is running at a constant speed of 300 rpm, and
is coupled to a rope brake dynamometer. The
dead weight on the engine and spring balance
readings are 590 N and 100 N respectively.
The diameters of flywheel and rope are 1.75m
and 19.00mm respectively.
• P - Passenger car and T indicates a temporary spare
tyre
• 185 - The appropriate tyre section width in mm
when fitted to its measuring rim
• 60 - The tyre aspect ratio. In this example, the tyre
section height is 60% of its section width.
• R - indicates the tyre is of 'radial' construction
• 14 - the diameter of the rim to which the tyre must
be fitted - 14"
• Service Description - the combination of the load
index and speed symbol
• Load Index (LI) - a numerical code indicating the
maximum load a tyre can carry at the speed
indicated by its speed symbol
• Speed Symbol - an alphabetical code indicating the
speed at which the tyre can carry a load
corresponding to its load index
TYRE MARKINGS
 ROLLING RADIUS
• The rolling radius is calculated from the length
of space it takes for the tire to make one
complete revolution. Typically, the larger the
diameter of the tire, the greater the
rolling radius.
• Rolling radius will impact the vehicle's
functions, such as the speedometer, the
transmission shift points and the RPM of the
engine's crank shaft while driving.