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Study of Dynamometer

1. A dynamometer is a device used to measure the torque and brake power of a driven machine. Dynamometers can be classified as power absorption or power transmission types. 2. Common power absorption dynamometers include the Prony brake, rope brake, eddy current, hydraulic, and electric motor/generator dynamometers. The Prony brake and rope brake dissipate power through dry friction while the others use fluid friction or electromagnetism. 3. Eddy current dynamometers offer advantages like high power density, wide speed ranges, smooth torque, and ease of control. Hydraulic dynamometers dissipate power through fluid friction and can control output via sluice gates.

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Mohanraj Kulandasamy
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824 views

Study of Dynamometer

1. A dynamometer is a device used to measure the torque and brake power of a driven machine. Dynamometers can be classified as power absorption or power transmission types. 2. Common power absorption dynamometers include the Prony brake, rope brake, eddy current, hydraulic, and electric motor/generator dynamometers. The Prony brake and rope brake dissipate power through dry friction while the others use fluid friction or electromagnetism. 3. Eddy current dynamometers offer advantages like high power density, wide speed ranges, smooth torque, and ease of control. Hydraulic dynamometers dissipate power through fluid friction and can control output via sluice gates.

Uploaded by

Mohanraj Kulandasamy
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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STUDY OF DYNAMOMETER

INTRODUCTION AND TYPES

A dynamometer is a device used for measuring the torque and brake power required to operate
a driven machine.
Dynamometers can be broadly classified into two types. They are:

1. Power Absorption Dynamometers: Power Absorption dynamometers measure and


absorb the power output of the engine to which they are coupled. The power absorbed is
usualy dissipated as heat by some means. Examples of power absorption dynamometers
are Prony brake dynamometer, Rope brake dynamometer, Eddy current
dynamometer, Hydraulic dynamometer, etc.

2. Power Transmission Dynamometers: In power transmission dynamometers, the power


is transmitted to the load coupled to the engine after it is indicated on some type of scale.
These are also called torque meters.

In engine testing, absorption dynamometers are most used and they are discussed below.

PRONY BRAKE DYNAMOMETER:


Pony Brake is one of the simplest dynamometer for measuring power output (brake power). It
is to attempt to stop the engine by means of a brake on the flywheel and measure the weight
which an arm attached to the brake will support, as it tries to rotate with the flywheel.

The Prony brake shown in the above consists of a wooden block, frame, rope, brake shoes and
flywheel. It works on the principle of converting power into heat by dry friction. Spring-loaded
bolts are provided to increase the friction by tightening the wooden block.
The whole of the power absorbed is converted into heat and hence this type of dynamometer
must the cooled.
The brake power is given by the formula
Brake Power (bp) = 2 NT
Where, T = Weight applied (W) distance (l)

ROPE BRAKE DYNAMOMETER:


The rope brake as shown in below figure is another device for measuring brake power of an
engine. It consists of a number of turns of rope wound around the rotating drum attached to the
output shaft. One side of the rope is connected to a spring balance and the other side to a loading
device. The power is absorbed in friction between the rope and the drum. Therefore, drum in
rope brake requires cooling.

Rope brake dynamometers are cheap and can be constructed easily but brake power cant be
measured accurately because of change in the friction coefficient of the rope with a change in
temperature.
The brake power is given by the formula
Brake Power (bp) = DN (W S)
Where,
D is the brake drum diameter,
W is the weight of the load and
S is the spring balance reading

EDDY CURRENT DYNAMOMETER:


The working principle of eddy current dynamometer is shown in the figure below. It consists
of a stator on which are fitted a number of electromagnets and a rotor disc made of copper or
steel and coupled to the output shaft of the engine. When the rotor rotates, eddy currents are
produced in the stator due to magnetic flux set up by the passage of field current in the
electromagnets. These eddy currents are dissipated in producing heat so that this type of
dynamometer requires some cooling arrangement. The torque is measured exactly as in other
types of absorption dynamometers, i.e. with the help of a moment arm. The load in internal
combustion engine testing is controlled by regulating the current in the electromagnets.

The following are the main advantages of eddy current dynamometers:

1. High brake power per unit weight of dynamometer.


2. They offer the highest ratio of constant power speed range (up to 5 : 1).
3. Level of field excitation is below 1% of total power being handled by dynamometer,
thus, they are easy to control and operate.
4. Development of eddy current is smooth hence the torque is also smooth and continuous
under all conditions.
5. Relatively higher torque under low speed conditions.
6. It has no intricate rotating parts except shaft bearing.
7. No natural limit to size, either small or large.

HYDRAULIC DYNAMOMETER:
Hydraulic dynamometer as shown in the figure below works on the principle of
dissipating the power in fluid friction rather than in dry friction.
In principle, hydraulic dynamometer construction is similar to that of a fluid flywheel.
Hydraulic dynamometer consists of an impeller or inner rotating member coupled to
the output shaft of the engine.
Impeller in this dynamometer rotates in a casing filled with a fluid.
Due to the centrifugal force developed in the outer casing, tends to revolve with the
impeller, but is resisted by a torque arm supporting the balance weight.
The frictional forces generated between the impeller and the fluid are measured by the
spring balance fitted on the casing.
The heat developed due to the dissipation of power in Hydraulic dynamometer is carried
away by a continuous supply of the working fluid.
The output power can be controlled by regulating the sluice gates which can be moved
in and out to partially or wholly obstruct the flow of water between the casing and the
impeller.

ELECTRIC MOTOR/GENERATOR DYNAMOMETER

Electric motor/generator dynamometers are a specialized type of adjustable-speed drives. The


absorption/driver unit can be either an alternating current (AC) motor or a direct current (DC)
motor. Either an AC motor or a DC motor can operate as a generator which is driven by the
unit under test or a motor which drives the unit under test. When equipped with appropriate
control units, electric motor/generator dynamometers can be configured as universal
dynamometers. The control unit for an AC motor is a variable-frequency drive and the control
unit for a DC motor is a DC drive. In both cases, regenerative control units can transfer power
from the unit under test to the electric utility.
In engine testing, universal dynamometers can not only absorb the power of the engine but
also, drive the engine for measuring friction, pumping losses and other factors. Electric
motor/generator dynamometers are generally more costly and complex than other types of
dynamometers.

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