Experiment: To perform the Morse Test on 4-stroke

multicylinder Petrol Engine

Objective:
Determine the indicated power developed in the each cylinder of the engine and mechanical efficiency
of the engine.

Multi-Cylinder Petrol Engine:

A medium capacity Maruti Suzuki Alto petrol engine is selected for experimental purposes. The
specification for the Engine is as follows:
Engine : 3 cylinder, 4 stroke, water cooled
Bore diameter : 66.5 mm
Stroke : 72 mm

The engine setup is complete with self-starter, lubricating-oil filter, air cleaner, distributor, ignition
coil etc.

Theory:
Morse test is applicable to multi-cylinder engines. The purpose of Morse Test is to obtain the
approximate Indicated Power of a Multi-cylinder Engine. It consists of running the engine against a
dynamometer at a particular speed, cutting out the firing of each cylinder in turn and noting the fall in
brake power each time while maintaining the speed constant. Combustion in one of the cylinders is
stopped by short circuiting spark plug or by cutting off the fuel supply. When one cylinder is cut off,
power developed is reduced and speed of engine falls. Accordingly, the load on the dynamometer is
adjusted so as to restore the engine speed. This is done to maintain friction power constant, which is
considered independent of the load and proportional to the engine speed. The observed difference in
brake power between all cylinders firing and with one cylinder cut off is the indicated power of the cut
off cylinder. Summation of indicated power of all the cylinders would then give the total indicated
power of the engine under test.

Assumptions:
1) At constant engine rpm, frictional power is assumed to be constant in all the cases.
2) Throttle position is to be kept same in all the cases.

Equations:
Brake power of engine can be calculated by using:

𝐵𝑃 = 2𝜋𝑁×(𝑊×9.81×𝑟) kW
60000

where…. N=engine speed (rpm); W=load (kg); r = Dynamometer Arm length = 0.21m.
 Indicated power of the cylinder is calculated by using:
IP(1 2 3) = BP(1 2 3) + FP(1 2 3) ....................... (i)

IP(2 3 ) = BP(2 3 ) + FP(1 2 3 ) ........................ (ii)

Substracting (ii) from (i) we get,

IP(1) = BP(1 2 3) - BP(2 3) Similarly,

IP(2) = BP(1 2 3) - BP(1 3)

IP(3) = BP(1 2 3) - BP(1 2)

Indicated power of the cylinder is calculated by using:

IP(engine) = IP(1) + IP(2) + IP(3)

Mechanical efficiency of the engine is given as,

BPall 100 %
=
mech

IPall

Observation Table:
Sr. No. Operating condition Speed (rpm) Load (kg)

1 All cylinders are working

2
First cylinder is cut-off and remaining are working

3 Second cylinder is cut-off and remaining are working

4 Third cylinder is cut-off and remaining are working

Sample Calculation:

Results and Discussion

Conclusions: