1

PERFORMANCE TEST ON SINGLE SATAGE

RECIPROCATING AIR COMPRESSOR

Aim

(a) To conduct a performance test on the given air compressor to determine

(i) Volumetric efficiency

(ii) Isothermal efficiency
(iii) Adiabatic efficiency

b) To plot the following graphs

(i) Delivery pressure Vs volumetric efficiency

(ii) Delivery pressure Vs isothermal efficiency
(iii) Delivery pressure Vs Adiabatic efficiency

Apparatus

(i) Single stage reciprocating compressor with discharge pressure gauge, orifice
meter and thermo couples.
(ii) Tachometer
(iii) Stopwatch

Principle

The performance of an air compressor varies with different operating conditions like
different pressure, mass of air delivered and speed of the Compressor. The test seeks to
predict the performance of the air compressor over a range of delivery pressure while the
speed is held constant and there by determine the optimal operating conditions where the
input is minimal while the output, ie mass of air delivered, is maximal. The compressor is
tested by progressively closing the delivery valve. The calculations involved are

A) Pressure head across orifice, Hw in meters of water.

Hw=h1-h2 m of water

h1, h2 =manometer reading in m of water.

B) Equivalent height of air column, Ha

Ha=Hw*(ρw/ ρair) m of air
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Where ρw=density of water =1000 kg/m3 and ρair =1.225 kg/m3

C) Actual intake volume of air in to the compressor at ambient conditions, Va

Va = Cd*a*√2gHa m3/sec

Cd = coefficient of discharge of orifice (0.64)

a= area of the orifice = (Π D2)/4 in m2
d= diameter of the orifice in m
D) Actual intake volume of air in to the compressor at NTP conditions,V1
V1=Va *(T1/Ta) m3/sec

T1 = 273K,Ta = (273+ta)K
Where ta is ambient temperature in oC
E) Theoretical volume swept by piston at NTP
Vth = (Π Db2 L N) / (4*60) m3/s

Db= bore diameter of the cylinder in m

L = Stroke length in m
N = shaft speed in rpm
F) Volumetric Efficiency, ηvol
ηvol =(V1/Vth)*100 %

G) Compression ratio,
r= (Pgauge + Patm)/ Patm

H) Iso thermal work done(compressor output) Wiso in KW

Wiso = Pa* Va* ln(r) Watts

Pa =ambient pressure in N/m2

Va = volume of air intake to the compressor at ambient conditions. in(m3/sec)
r = compressor ratio
= (Pgauge + Patm)/ Patm
I) Work input to the compressor shaft. Win
Win = [(n*3600)* ηm* ηb]/ (t*k) kWatts

n =number of revolutions of energy meter disc

t =time taken for n number of revolutions in seconds
ηm =motor efficiency and ηb = belt efficiency
K = energy meter constant in KWhr
J) Isothermal Efficiency, ηiso
ηiso =(Wiso/Win)*100 %

K) Adiabatic work done ,Wadia in Watts

Wadia = (n/n-1) *Pa Va[r(n-1/n)-1] Watts

n = isothermal expansion index =1.3 for air

r = compression ratio =V1/V2
L) Adiabatic efficiency, ηadia
ηadia = (Wadia/Win)*100 %
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Procedure
 Ensure sufficient level of lubricating oil SAE 40.

 The delivery valve of storage tank should be opened while starting the compressor.

 Do not exceed the permissible rate pressure while conducting the test.

 The initial reading of the pressure gauge should be zero before starting the
experiment.

 The single stage reciprocating air compressor was then started at no load conditions.

 At the no load state (ie delivery with full open), the readings of energy meter,
manometer, room temperature and pressure gauge readings were noted.

 Using the tachometer the compressor speed was monitored.

 The energy meter reading was taken by noting the time for revolutions of the disc.

 The experiment was repeated for various loads by gradually increasing the delivery
pressure to the maximum permissible value.

 The compressor was then stopped at no load condition.

Specifications
 Cd =
 D=
 Db =
 L=
 N=
 K=
 ηm =
 ηb =

Tabular Column

No Pgauge N Hw t Ha Va V1 Vth ηvol r Win Wiso Wadia ηiso ηadia

N/m2 RPM m of s m of m3/s m3/s m3/s % kW kW kW % %

water air
4

Results
RESULT

Performance test on the given single stage air compressor was done and the following
graphs were plotted

(i) Delivery pressure Vs volumetric efficiency

(ii) Delivery pressure Vs isothermal efficiency
(iii) Delivery pressure Vs Adiabatic efficiency
From Graph
(i) Volumetric efficiency =
(ii) Isothermal efficiency =
(iii) Adiabatic efficiency =

Inference
5

HEAT BALANCE TEST ON SINGLE CYLINDER DIESEL

ENGINE

Aim
(i) To conduct heat balance on single cylinder diesel engine.
(ii) To plot heat balance sheet.

Apparatus
(i) Single cylinder diesel engine coupled with break drum dynamometer, fuel gauge
and orifice arrangement.
(ii) Thermo couples
(iii) Tachometer
(iv) Weights
(v) Stopwatch

Principle

A) Mass flow rate of air

Ma = ρa*Cd*a*√2gHa kg/sec

ρa = Density of air =1.2 kg/m3

Cd= Coefficient of discharge of orifice meter
a = area of orifice in m2= ᴨD2/4 m2 where D is the diameter of orifice in m
Ha=Head of air = (h1-h2)* ρw/ ρa m of air where ρw = density of water =1000kg/m3
g=9.8 m/s2

B) Total Fuel Consumption

TFC = (Vf* ρf)*/t kg/s

Vf = Volume of fuel consumed in m3

ρf = Density of diesel=827 kg/m3
t = time taken to consume Vf m3 of diesel

C) Brake Power

BP= 2ᴨNT/60000 kW

N= Speed of the engine in RPM

T= Torque acting at the break drum T= (S1-S2)*g* R
Where S1 =Load, S2= Spring Balance reading, R= Break Drum radius + Rope
Thickness
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D) Specific Fuel Consumption

SFC = TFC/BP kg/kWs

E) Air-Fuel Ratio

A/F = Ma/TFC

F) Brake Thermal Efficiency

ηbt = (BP*100)/(TFC*Cv) %

Cv = Calorific value of diesel= 44631.96 kJ/kg

Heat Balance sheet calculations

G) Credit Side

a) Heat Input

Qi = TFC*Cv kW

H) Debit Side

a) Heat converted into use full work

Qbp = BP kW

b) Heat carried away by the engine cooling water

Qw = Mw*cpw* (T3-T2) kW

Mw = Mass flow rate of water in kg/s

Mw = Vw* ρw kg/s
Where Vw= Volume flow rate in m3/s and ρw = Density of water = 1000 kg/m3
cpw = Specific Heat of water = 4.178 kJ/kgK
T3 = Outlet temperature of cooling water in K
T2 = Inlet temperature of cooling water in K

c) Heat carried away by the exhaust gas

Qg = Mg*cpg* (T4-T1) kW

Mg = Mass flow rate of exhaust gas in kg/s

Mg = Ma + TFC kg/s
cpg= Specific Heat of exhaust gas = 1.005 kJ/kgK
T4 = Exhaust gas temperature in K
T1= Ambient temperature in K
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d) Un accountable losses

Qu = Qi – (Qbp + Qw + Qg) kW

Procedure
 Give the necessary electrical connections to the panel.
 Check the lubricating oil level in the engine.
 Check the fuel level in the tank.
 Allow the water to flow to the engine.
 Release the load if any on the dynamometer.
 Open the valve so that fuel flows to the engine.
 Start the engine by cranking.
 Allow to attain the steady state.
 Load the engine.
 Note the following readings for particular condition,
 Engine Speed
 Time taken for Vf volume of diesel consumption
 Water meter readings
 Manometer readings
 Temperatures at different locations.
 Repeat the experiment for different loads and note down the above readings.
 After the completion release the load and then switch of the engine.
 Allow the water to flow for few minutes and then turn it off.

Specification
Cd =
D=
N=
Brake Drum Diameter =
Rope Diameter =

Tabular Column

No N S1-S2 Hw t T1 T2 T3 T4
RPM kg m of s K K K K
water
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Result
Heat balance test in single cylinder diesel engine was successfully conducted and heat
balance sheet was plotted

Heat Balance Sheet

Credit Side (Input) Debit Side (Output)

No Particular Heat, Q (kW) % No Particular Heat, Q (kW) %
1 Qi 1 Qbp
2 Qw
3 Qg
4 Qu
Total 100 Total 100

Inference
9

COOLING CURVE TEST ON SINGLE CYLINDER

FIELDMARSHAL DIESEL ENGINE

Aim

(i) To study the influence of cooling water temperature (outlet temperature) on the
efficiency of the engine.
(ii) To plot the graph cooling water temperature Vs Brake thermal efficiency.

Apparatus
(i) Single cylinder diesel engine coupled with break drum dynamometer, fuel gauge
and orifice arrangement.
(ii) Thermo couples
(iii) Tachometer
(iv) Weights
(v) Stopwatch

Principle
A) Brake Power

BP= 2ᴨNT/60000 kW

N= Speed of the engine in RPM

T= Torque acting at the break drum T= (S1-S2)*g* R
Where S1 =Load, S2= Spring Balance reading, R= Break Drum radius + Rope
Thickness

B) Total Fuel Consumption

TFC = (Vf* ρf)*/t kg/s

Vf = Volume of fuel consumed in m3

ρf = Density of diesel=827 kg/m3
t = time taken to consume Vf m3 of diesel

C) Brake Thermal Efficiency

ηbt = (BP*100)/(TFC*Cv) %

Cv = Calorific value of diesel= 44631.96 kJ/kg

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Procedure

 Cooling water circulation should never be closed.

 The temperature of the outlet water should never increase beyond 700C.
 This test is to be conducted at constant load (half full load) and constant speed.
 Calculate the load corresponding to half the output of the engine at rated speed.
 Now start the engine taking all the necessary precaution.
 Allow the engine to run for few minutes at no load.
 Now load the engine to half full load, keeping the quantity of cooling water
circulation as low as possible.
 Wait for few minutes till the outlet water temperature becomes steady.
 Note the cooling water temperature and also the time for Vf volume of fuel
consumption.
 Repeat the experiment for different rates of cooling water circulation, keeping the
load constant.
 After the completion of experiment, unload and then stop the engine.
 Draw graph between cooling water outlet temperature and brake thermal efficiency.
 Find cooling water temperature corresponding to the maximum brake thermal
efficiency from the graph.

Specification

D=
N=
Brake Drum Diameter =
Rope Diameter =

Tabular Column

No S1-S2 t Water Outlet TFC ηbt

Temperature T
kg s K kg/s %

Result

Optimum temperature of cooling water (from graph) =

Inference
11

CENTRIFUGAL AIR BLOWER

Aim

(i) To determine the blower power and blower efficiency of the given type of
impeller.
(ii) To plot Discharge vs Blower power graph.
(iii) To Plot Discharge vs Blower Efficiency graph.

Apparatus

(i) Centrifugal air blower test rig with orifice meter and pitot tube.
(ii) Stopwatch

Principle

A fan or a blower is a machine used for applying power to a gaseous fluid to increase
its energy content to enable the flow of gas against various degrees of resistance. The
function of a fan is to move gases through distribution system and apparatus required for
conditionings the gas medium, such as systems for healing ventilation and air conditioning of
buildings, drying and cooling of materials and products, for pneumatic conveying of
materials for dust collection separation and exhaust for industrial processing or mining work
etc. Blowers are the fans used to force air under pressure i.e. the resistance to gas or air flow
is imposed primarily upon the discharge. Exhausters are a fan used to with draw air under
suction i.e the resistance to flow is imposed primarily upon inlet. An experiment is conducted
to determine the blower power and blower efficiency.

A) Static Head of Air

Ha = (Hw * ρw)/ ρa m of air

Where Hw = h1 – h2 m of water, ρw = Density of water = 1000 kg/m3 and

ρa = Density of air= 1.2 kg/m3

B) Velocity Head of air (Hg Manometer)

H1a = (Hm * ρm)/ ρa

Where Hm = h11 – h12 m of Hg, ρm= Density of Hg = 13594 kg/m3 and

ρa = Density of air= 1.2 kg/m3
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C) Discharge of air through duct

Va = Cd*a*√2gHa m3/sec

Cd = coefficient of discharge of orifice (0.64)

a= area of the orifice = (Π D2)/4 in m2
d= diameter of the orifice in m

D) Blower Output Power

Pbo = (ρa*g*Va*Ha)/1000 kW

E) Blower Input Power

Pbi = [(n*3600)* ηm* ηt]/ (t*k) kW

n =number of revolutions of energy meter disc

t =time taken for n number of revolutions in seconds
ηm =motor efficiency and ηt = Transmission efficiency
K = energy meter constant in KWhr

F) Blower Efficiency

ηblower = (Blower Output Power*100/Blower Input Power) %

Procedure

 The manometer readings are noted.

 The impeller should be firmly fixed to the motor shaft while changing the impeller.
 All the electrical connections are checked.
 The blower inlet is covered with the plate and all the 12 bolts are tightened.
 Butterfly valve is opened for 100% opening and locked in that position.
 The blower or motor is started with the help of starter.
 Time in seconds for n revolutions of the energy meter disc is noted.
 The levels of the fluids in both the manometers are noted.
 The experiment is repeated for different discharges.

Specifications
Cd=
D=
K=
ηm =
ηt =
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Tabular Column

No Hw HHg t Ha H1a Va Pbo Pbi ηblower

m of m of s m of air m of air m3/sec kW kW %
water Hg

Results

(i) Blower power and blower efficiency of the given type of impeller was
determined.
(ii) Discharge vs Blower power graph was plotted.
(iii) Discharge vs Blower Efficiency graph was plotted.

Inference