On the Development of Modern Analysis Techniques for Single Cylinder Testing of Large-Bore Engines

Abstract

The world-wide consolidation of many engine manufacturers, along with the relatively low production rate of new engines, has resulted in a significant reduction in the facilities, engines, and personnel available for conducting full-engine laboratory quality tests against calibrated dynamometers. Concurrently, the continued pressure for further reduction in exhaust emissions, along with improvements in fuel consumption, has created a growing aftermarket for the retrofit/upgrade of new technologies requiring further engine development. Regrettably, the prohibitive cost and capital investment associated with full engine tests, along with the lack of facilities, makes such tests prohibitive. Therefore, a number of new experimental techniques and associated analysis methods have been developed for conducting laboratory quality single-cylinder tests on commercial engines without interfering with their profitable operation. Such tests have been successfully conducted on both spark-ignited and dual fuel engines. Many details of the methods utilized, along with estimations of their accuracy and reliability, are described.