Engine measurement and

performance

Terms and definitions

Energy - capacity or ability to do work, can
not be created or destroyed, only changes
from one form to another
Potential energy
Position- water stored behind a dam
Chemical - motor fuels
Condition - a spring compressed

Kinetic energy - energy in motion,

Water falling over a dam
Rotating power shafts
A spring released

Energy
Example: A heavy weight suspended on a
rope contains energy potential. When the
rope is cut, potential energy turns into
kinetic energy as the weight falls.
When the weight hits the ground, the kinetic
energy is dissipated in three ways: sound, heat
(absorbed by the soil, and compaction of the
earth
Engines convert a fuels potential energy into
useable kinetic energy. The process generates
tremendous heat. Two thirds of this heat is lost
to exhaust and engine cooling and only 1/3 of
the heat generated is used to power machinery
components.

Force
action that attempts to move of an
object from a state of rest or causes
a change of speed or direction of an
object in motion
expressed in terms of weight, e.g. pounds,
tons, kilograms

Work
results when force (pounds, tons,
kilograms) overcomes a resistance
and causes movement of an object
over a distance (feet, yards, meters).
The formula to calculate work is:
Work = Distance X Force

Work Calculation
If an object that weighs 330 pounds is
moved a distance of 100 feet then 33,000
foot pounds of work has been completed
100 ft X 330 lbs = 33,000 foot pounds of work
Note: if no movement results upon the
application of force, no work is accomplished.
Motion must occur for work to be calculated.

Types of Work
Linear motion is usually expressed as
foot pounds of work.
Rotary motion (torque) is usually
expressed at pound feet.
Mathematically, the units are the
same.

Power
Power is the rate (time interval) at
which work is accomplished.
Expressed as foot pounds per minute or second
pound feet per minute (torque)

POWER = work
time

Sample Calculation
object weighing 330 pounds was moved
100 feet, in one minute, then work at the
result of 33,000 foot pounds / minute was
accomplished.
This is equal to one horsepower.
Power =
Force X Distance or Work (ft lb)
Time
Time

330 lbs X 100 ft = 33,000 ft lbs

1 min
min

If a 330 lb. weight 100 ft. in 1/2 minute

330 lbs X 100 feet = 66,000 ft lbs
.5 min
min
The amount of work (foot pounds) in this
example is the same but the rate or time
interval is different. Twice as much power was
exerted in the second example because the
same amount of work was completed in half
the time as the first example.

Horsepower
Standard unit of engine power
associated with an amount of work
accomplished over specified time
intervals and can be expressed in
several ways.
Horsepower was originally defined by
James Watt in 1765 when trying to
compare steam engines with the
known power source of that era (the
draft horse).

Watt Takes Notes at the

Dock
James Watt (1780s) observed that a
draft horse could move a 330 pound
weight a distance of 100 feet in a
time of one minute.
This is equal to 33,000 foot pounds
per minute or one horsepower
This fact has been used as our
standard for horsepower
measurements ever since.

Horsepower

100 Feet in
1 minute

330 Lbs

Horsepower Formulas
There are many formulas for
computing horsepower (Hp) but they
are derived from the following
expression that:
One Hp = 33,000 ft lbs of work per
minute
several other mathematical formula
have been derived from this basic
formula to calculate horsepower

Formulas
Hp = Force (lbs) X Distance (feet)
Time (minutes) X 33000 ft. lbs/min
Problem: A tractor pulls a wagon weighing
three tons and exerts a force of 3,000
pounds. If the load is moved 400 feet in
one minute, what is the horsepower
developed?
What if it took two minutes to pull the
same load this distance?

Solution:
3,000 lb
x
400 ft = 1,200,000 =
36.36 Hp
33,000 ft lb/min. X 1 min 33,000
3,000 lb
18.18 Hp

400 ft =

33,000 ft lb/min. X 2 min

1,200,000 =

66,000

Time given in seconds

33,000 ft lb = 33,000 ft lb =
1 min
60 sec
1 sec

550 foot pounds

Hp = Force (lbs) X Distance (feet)

second(s) X 550 ft lbs/sec

One Hp = 550 foot pounds per

second
33,000lb ft/ min / 60 sec = 550 ft lb per
sec.

 Example: Calculate horsepower

considering 500 lb load was moved 100
feet in two seconds.
500 lb X 100 ft =
550 ft lb/sec X 2 sec

50,000 = 45.45 Hp
1100

Drawbar horsepower
formula:
the drawbar horsepower formula is
useful when distance is given in miles
per hour (mph).
Hp = draft( pounds of force) X mph
375

Sample
Example: A tractor pulling a mower
generates a draft (force) of 1800
pounds on the drawbar. If the tractor
is traveling at 5 miles per hour, what
is the horsepower exerted.
We can work this problem in with a
couple methods.

How do we do this?
Hint: convert MPH to ft./min. or
ft./sec. or use the drawbar Hp
formula.
To convert mph to feet per minute:
5 mile X 5280 ft X1 hr = 440 feet
1 hr x 1 mile x 60 min
min

5 mph = 440 ft per minute, now use

original Hp formula

 Force (lbs) X Distance (feet) = Hp

Time (min) X 33000 ft lb/min
440 ft X 1800 lb
Hp

= 792,000 = 24

1 min X 33000 ft lb/min

33,000

Use drawbar formula:

draft(force) X mph = Hp
375
1800 X 5 = 9000 =24 Hp
375
375

Torque
force which
attempts to
produce rotation of
an object (shaft,
gear, pulley, etc.).
If motion occurs,
we can calculate
work which is
accomplished
through rotational
energy, such as by
pulleys, crank
arms, gears, belts,
chains, etc.

 In machinery, torque is typically

measured in terms of force (lbs) and
distance (ft).
Force is the pounds of force (weight)
applied to the lever arm.
Distance involved is the length in
feet of the lever arm involved (radius
of a pulley, gear or sprocket).

Torque = pound feet

Torque is expressed as pound feet
rather than foot pounds.
Mathematically the work produced is
the same.

Linear vs Rotational Work

With linear work: feet is the distance
an object is moved and force is the
weight of the object being moved.
Foot times pounds of force = foot
pounds
With torque: feet is the distance of
the lever arm (radius of pulley, gear,
etc,) involved and force is the pounds
of effort being applied to the lever
arm

Torque formula
Example: An engine delivers 400
pound feet of torque at 1000 RPM.
Calculate the horsepower using the
torque formula.

Torque Formula
HP = Torque (lb ft) X RPM
5252
400 lb ft X 1000 RPM = 400,000 = 76.16
HP
5252

5252

Derivation of horsepower formula for

testing rotating power sources
Hp = Torque (pound feet) X RPM (speed of rotating shaft)
5252

1.

Hp = Force (pounds) X Distance (feet)

Time (minutes) X 33000

Note: omit time because RPM is in revolutions per minute

2. Distance of rotating lever arm= RPM X 2 Length of lever arm

or
3. D= RPM X 2 X 3.1416 X L (substitute this in line 1)
4. D= Force (pounds) X RPM X 2 X 3.1416 X L
33000

5.

Hp= F X RPM X L
5200

6.
7

Torque (T) = F X L (substitute 6 in 5)

Hp = Torque X RPM
5252

Electric motor horsepower has a

wattage equivalent
Wattage equivalent for electrical
energy
Watts = Volts X Amps
One Hp =746 watts of electrical
energy @ 100% efficiency.
A typical 1 Hp electric motor = 1000
watts
A 240 volt motor drawing 10 amps
consumes 2400 watts or 2.4 hp

Engine Output
Horsepower expressions (how hp is
expressed) - several different ways of
expressing horsepower from various
engine manufacturers

Indicated horsepower
power derived by engineering
measurement based on fuel type, piston
stroke, piston area, energy in fuel, etc.
process subtracts the frictional engine
losses and deals with raw power of the
fuel and engine components. (This method
is not typically useful to us, the consumer.)

Indicated Power (IP) : Power obtained at the

cylinder. Obtained from the indicator diagram.
Given by:
IP = PiLANn/60x in Watts
where Pi is the indicated mean effective
pressure, in N/m2,
L is the stroke length, in m
A is the area of cross section of the
piston, m2,
N is the engine speed in rev/min,
n is the number of cylinders and
x =1 for 2 stroke and 2 for 4 stroke
engine.

Brake Power
Brake Power (BP) : Power obtained at the
shaft. Obtained from the engine
dynamometer.
Given by:
BP = 2NT/60 in Watts
where T is the brake torque, in Nm, given by
T = W.L
where W is the load applied on the shaft by
the dynamometer, in N and
L is the length of the arm where the
load is applied, in m
N is the engine speed, in rev/min

Friction Power
Friction Power (FP) : Power dissipated
as friction. Obtained by various
methods like Morse test for multicylinder engine, Willans line
method for a diesel engine, and
Retardation test and Motoring test
for all types of engines. Given in
terms of IP and BP by:
FP = IP BP in Watts

Mean Effective Pressure.

Indicated Mean Effective Pressure (IMEP). This is
also denoted by Pi and is given by
Pi = (Net work of cycle)/Swept Volume in N/m2
The net work of cycle is the area under the P-V
diagram.
Brake Mean Effective Pressure (BMEP). This is also
denoted by Pb and is given by
Pb = 60.BPx/(LANn) N/m2
This is also the brake power per unit swept volume
of the engine.
Friction Mean Effective Pressure (FMEP). This is also
denoted by Pf and is given by
Pf = Pi - Pb N/m2

Efficiencies.
Indicated Thermal Efficiency (i) given by
i = IP/(mf . Qcv)
mf is the mass of fuel taken into the engine in kg/s
Qcv is the calorific value of the fuel in J/kg
Brake Thermal Efficiency (b) given by
b = BP/(mf . Qcv)
Indicated Relative Efficiency (i,r) given by
i,r = i/ASE
ASE is the efficiency of the corresponding air standard cycle
Brake Relative Efficiency (b,r) given by
b,r = b/ASE
Mechanical Efficiency (m) given by
m = BP/IP = Pb/Pi = b/i = b,r/I,r

Specific Fuel Consumption (sfc or

SFC
This is the fuel consumed per unit power.
Brake Specific Fuel Consumption (bsfc). This is given by
bsfc = mf/BP kg/J
if BP is in W and mf is in kg/s
bsfc is usually quoted in kg/kWh. This is possible if BP is in
kW and mf is in kg/h.
Indicated Specific Fuel Consumption (isfc). This is given by
isfc = mf/IP kg/J
if IP is in W and mf is in kg/s
isfc is also usually quoted in kg/kWh. This is possible if IP is
in kW and mf is in kg/h.
Mechanical Efficiency in terms of the sfc values is given by
m = isfc/bsfc

Testing Horsepower
Horsepower is tested on a
machine called a
dynamometer.
This machine applies a
braking load to the tractor
drawbar, PTO shaft, or engine
flywheel.
The braking force is applied
by prony brake
uses a brake drum (hydraulically
actuated) as a loading device.
The brake is attached to a lever
arm (1 foot long typical) which
transmits the turning effort
(force) to a scale or electronic
load cell.

Prony brake dynamometer

 electric dynamometer - engine turns a

generator and the wattage produces is an
indicator of horsepower
Eddy current dynamometer - engine turns
a generator which is attached to a lever
arm. As the generated load increases
through a large resistor bank to dissipate
the wattage produced, a lever arm
attached to the generator applies torque
to a scale or electronic load cell

Dynamometer Performance
variables
Dynamometer accuracy, operator skill
Engine test conditions
Fuel temperature - 18F --> 3-4% change
in HP output. Hot fuel is less dense, and
has less energy and develops less
horsepower
Air temperature - 18F --> 1% change in
HP output in a naturally aspirated engine,
no difference in a turbocharged engine

 Altitude
air is less dense at higher elevations, and the
same engine would develop less horsepower

Type of fuel
Diesel - Cetane rating
Gasoline - octane rating
Age of the fuel (gasoline deteriorates after about 30
days)
Summer/winter fuel - formulations are different

 Parasitic loads from power train,

differential, condition of lubricants
Engine condition or wear - "well tuned",
speeds correct (governor), clutches not
slipping