Department of Mechanical Engineering
Bellville Campus
THERMODYNAMICS III LABORATORY
Diesel Engine
By Student name
Student no
Signatur……………
Subject: APT260S
Lecturer: S Makhomo/C Magoda
Evaluation Criteria
Introduction: (Aim for each lab, Background, List of the apparatus,
10%
Procedure etc)
Result: (Calculations, Correct method, etc) 50%
Explanations: (did you explain what you are doing rather than put
10%
formulas.)
Discussion: (Discussion of the results, do they make sense? Any possible
10%
errors, etc)
Conclusion and Recommendations: (Did we achieve our aims? What
10%
do we need to do to improve our results)
Presentation, layout and neatness: (Cover page, Typed/ print neat,
10%
report format, etc)
Total 100%
Date of submission:
I swear this is the original work of the author. All information obtained directly or indirectly
from other sources has being fully acknowledged.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Aim of the Experiment
2. Theoretical Background
3. Experimental method, procedure and equipment
4. Data, findings and results
5. Discussion of experimental Results
6. Conclusions
7. References
8. Appendices
1. AIM OF THE LABORATORY EXPERIMENT
To determine the basic characteristics of the Test Engine
To determine energy balance for the Test Engine and predict the losses
2. THEORETICAL BACKGROUND
This section is to discuss the theoretical aspects leading to the experiment. Typically, this involves the
historical background of the theories published in the research literature and the questions or ambiguities
arose in these theoretical work. Citations for the sources of information should be given in one of the
standard bibliographic formats (for example, using square brackets with the corresponding number [2] that
points to the List of References). Explore this background to prepare the readers to read the main body of
the report. It should contain sufficient materials to enable the readers to understand why the set of data are
collected, and what are the salient features to observe in the graph, charts and tables presented in the later
sections.
Depending on the length and complexity of the report, the introduction and the theoretical background
may be combined into one introductory section.
3. EXPERIMENTAL METHOD, PROCEDURE & EQUIPMENT
This section describes the approach and the equipment used to conduct the experiment. It explains the
function of each apparatus and how the configuration works to perform a particular measurement.
Students should not recopy the procedures of the experiment from the lab handout, but to summarize and
explain the methodology in a few paragraphs.
4. DATA, FINDINDS & RESULTS
4.1.1 From the results, calculate the air mass flow rate, and plot the engine variables against speed.
Then for comparison, plot all variables on one chart or several charts of the similar scale. The engine
variables are:
• Air/fuel ratio
• Engine exhaust temperature
• Torque
• Power
• Specific fuel consumption
• Thermal efficiency
• Heat balance for test.
4.1.2 Look at the power and efficiency curves. What is the approximate optimum speed for the engine?
4.2.1 Create three tables similar to table 4(a).
4.2.2 From the tables, create a pie chart of the energy output values as percentages of the energy input.
What is noticeable about the losses at higher and lower speeds then the optimum performance
speed?
4.2.3 What could cause the “other losses”?
5. DISCUSSION OF EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS
The interpretation of the data gathered can be discussed in this section. Sample calculations may be
included to show the correlation between the theory and the measurement results. If there exists any
discrepancy between the theoretical and experimental results, an analysis or discussion should follow to
explain the possible sources of error.
6. CONCLUSIONS
The conclusions section closes the report by providing a summary to the content in the report. It indicates
what is shown by the experimental work, what is its significance, and what are the advantages and
limitations of the information presented. The potential applications of the results and recommendations for
future work may be included.
APPENDICES
Table 1: Average fuel flow rate in ml/s
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
rev/ min
8ml
Average time - - -
16ml
Average time - - -
Use the average time for each of the volumes
Table 2: Engine variables at various engine speeds (Atmospheric Pressure: 996 mbar)
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
rev/ min
Ambient Temperature (°C)
Chamber Temperature (°C)
Differential Pressure (Pa)
Torque (N.m)
Cooling water flow rate (l/min)
Power (Mechanical) (kW)
T1 (Water inlet) (°C)
T2 (Water outlet) (°C)
T3 (Exhaust in) (°C)
T4 (Exhaust out) (°C)
Table 3: Calculated engine variables at various speeds
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
rev/ min
Power (Brake)
Air/ Fuel ratio
Specific Fuel Consumption
Volumetric Efficiency
Thermal Efficiency
Table 4(a): Heat energy balance @ 3500 rpm, 3026 rpm & 2000 rpm
ENERGY INPUT (kJ/min) ENERGY OUTPUT (kJ/min) %
Heat of combustion Mechanical Power =
mf × CV Heat lost to exhaust =
Other losses =
Total Total =
Table 5: Engine Technical details
Item Specification
Ignition system Flywheel Magneto
Absolute Maximum Power 7.3 kW (9.9hp) * at 3600 [Link]-1
Continuous Rated Power 6.5 kW (8.8hp) * at 3600 [Link]-1
Bore 88 mm
Stroke/ Crank Radius 73 mm/ 38 mm
Connecting Rod Length 124 mm
Engine Capacity 462 cm3 (0.462 L) or 462cc
Compression Ratio 20.5: 1
Oil Type Multigrade SAE 10 W – 30
Calorific value of petrol 45.8 MJ/kg
Typical value for density of petrol 0.75 kg/l
Oil Capacity 1.5 Litre
Orifice diameter 21 mm
Useful information
Air Cd :0.6
E xhaust C P :1 kJ /kg . K
mass flow rate : ṁa=C d
4 √
π d2 2 PA ∆ p
RTA