Design of a Tow-away Engine Dynamometer
Open Access
- Author:
- Sanghavi, Karan
- Area of Honors:
- Mechanical Engineering
- Degree:
- Bachelor of Science
- Document Type:
- Thesis
- Thesis Supervisors:
- Dr. Sean N Brennan, Thesis Supervisor
Zoubeida Ounaies, Thesis Honors Advisor - Keywords:
- design
engine
dynamometer
test
cycles
transient
HIL
hardware in the loop - Abstract:
- Currently Pennsylvania State University is only one of two academic institutions in the United States to have a certified heavy engine emissions test stand co-located with a heavy-duty vehicle chassis dynamometer. The goals of this thesis build upon this unique capability. First an engine stand is being built to allow the chassis dynamometer to also function as an engine dynamometer for heavy duty vehicles. This benefits not only university research, but also assists industry sponsors interested in testing their engines for performance, fuel economy, particulate formation, and chemical emissions. Through the use of telemetry, this project deploys the capability to capture data from a live vehicle on Penn State's test track and simultaneously load that data on to the engine on the tow-away chassis dynamometer being tested to simulate realistic driving conditions. This also provides more realistic testing situations, as typical engine dynamometer fuel economy tests run pre-programmed cycles on the engine to match federally mandated testing and thus miss effects of congestion, traffic light timing, weather-related driving changes, etc. Finally, the system was designed to be towed to remote sites, which enables easy use by student clubs, industry research, or even as demonstrations for classrooms.