Experiment No.

MORSE TEST
AIM:
To determine the Indicated Power and hence the Frictional Power of the given
Multicylinder Spark Ignition engine.

THEORY:
The power lost to overcome the friction between the inner wall of the cylinder and the
piston is called frictional power. Frictional power of an Internal Combustion engine can be
determined by the following methods:
1) Willan’s line method
2) Difference between IP and BP
3) Morse Test
4) Motoring the engine
For multicylinder engines, in addition to the above, the Morse test can also be
performed to find FP. The test consists of cutting off each cylinder (disconnecting the current
supply to the spark plug of a particular cylinder) one by one and finding out the net Brake
power (BP) every time, without varying the speed. The difference between total BP (with all
cylinders working) and BP with one cylinder cut off gives the Indicated Power (IP)
developed in that cylinder. Knowing the power developed in each cylinder individually, the
total IP can be obtained as the sum of all of them and hence FP can be determined.
Morse test is used to find a close estimate of indicated power of a multi-cylinder
engine. In this test the engine is coupled to a suitable brake dynamometer and the brake
power is determined by running the engine at the required speed. The first cylinder is now
cut-out by shorting out the spark plug of the first cylinder in case of petrol engine or by
interrupting the fuel supply to the first cylinder in case of a diesel engine.

As a result of cutting out the first cylinder, engine speed will drop. Load on the engine
is now removed so that the original speed in attained. The brake power under this load is
determined and recorded( BP¿¿1)¿.

The first cylinder operation is restored normal and then the second cylinder is cut-out.
The engine speed will again vary. By adjusting the load, the engine speed is again brought to
original speed and new brake power is recorded(BP¿¿ 2)¿. Same procedure is continued till
the last cylinder is cut-out.

Multi-cylinder oil or gas engine may be used for this test and experiment is to be
conducted keeping the speed constant by adjusting the load on the engine.

Assuming a four-cylinder engine,

Let IP1 , IP2 , IP3 , IP 4 be the indicated power of individual cylinders and

Let FP 1, FP 2 , FP 3 , FP 4 be the friction power of individual cylinders.

When all the cylinders are working,

Total Brake Power, BP=( IP1 −FP1 ) + ( IP 2−FP 2 ) + ( IP3 −FP 3) + ( IP4 −FP 4 )

= ( IP 1+ IP 2+ IP 3 + IP4 )−( FP 1 + FP 2+ FP 3 + FP 4 )

When first cylinder is cut-out, BP of first cylinder is

BP 1=( IP2 + IP3 + IP 4 ) −( FP 1+ FP 2 + FP 3+ FP 4 )

On subtracting, IP1 = ( BP−BP1 ) = Indicated power of First Cylinder

When second cylinder is cut-out, following the same principle, we get,

IP2 = ( BP−BP 2 ) = Indicated power of Second Cylinder

IP3 = ( BP−BP3 ) = Indicated power of Third Cylinder

IP 4 = ( BP−BP 4 ) = Indicated power of Fourth Cylinder

Hence indicated power of the engine, IP = ( IP 1+ IP 2+ IP 3 + IP4 )

In general, IP of ‘n’ number of cylinders is given by, IPn =BP n + FP

IP of (n-1) cylinder is given by, IP(n−1)=BP(n−1) + FP

PROCEDURE:
1) The engine is started and allowed for some time to warm up.

2) The engine is loaded to its maximum value by using hydraulic dynamometer, and the
throttle position is adjusted to any desired value to obtain the desired rated speed.
Load and speed values are noted down.
 3) Current supply to the spark plug of first cylinder is stopped by operating the levers
(switches)

4) Load is now decreased to bring the speed back to its original rated speed, without
altering the throttle position. Reading of the spring balance is noted down.

5) Next the current supply to the spark plug of second cylinder is stopped soon after the
current supply to the spark plug of first cylinder is restored. Load is altered to
maintain the original speed and it is noted down.

6) Experiment is repeated for third cylinders and the readings are noted down.

RESULTS:

a) Indicated Power of the engine is found to be……………

b) Frictional Power of the engine is found to be ………….

TABULAR COLUMN:
Speed N Load F Fuel mass flow B.P in kW ȠB Thermal
in rpm (kg) rate
mL ‘t’ sec
1200 10
1200 10
1200 10
1200 10

FORMULAE AND CALCULATIONS:

1] Max load calculations:
2 πN (F∗9.81∗r )
BP =
60∗1000
Where Rated speed = N = 1150 rpm
Rated power = 7.8 kW
Arm length = r = 0.358 m
2] When all cylinders are working
2 πN (F∗9.81∗r )
BP =
60∗1000

3] When the 1st cylinder is cut-off:

2 πN (F∗9.81∗r )
BP1=
60∗1000

4] When the 2nd cylinder is cut-off:

2 πN (F∗9.81∗r )
BP2=
60∗1000

5] When the 3rd cylinder is cut-off:

2 πN (F∗9.81∗r )
BP3=
60∗1000

6] Indicated Power:
IP1=BP-BP1
IP2=BP-BP2
IP3=BP-BP3
IP=IP1+ IP2+IP3

7] Frictional Power:
FP = IP - BP

8] Mass flow rate

10 mL∗ρ
mf = t∗1000∗1000 =¿ kg/ s

9] Brake thermal efficiency:

B.P
ȠB Thermal = Q ∗100= ______%

Q=mf*C.V
FINAL TABLE OF CALCULATIONS:
Engine Brake Indicated
Sl.
Cylinder Condition Speed Load in kg Power Power in
No
in rpm in kW kW
All cylinders are
1 firing
BP = IP =
1st cylinder is not
2 firing
BP1 = IP1 =
2nd cylinder is not
3 firing
BP2 = IP2 =
3rd cylinder is not
4 firing
BP3 = IP3 =