Experiment No.

13
To determine the fuel consumption of an IC engine

(Slow speed diesel engine).

13.1 Objective:

 Calculations for finding fuel consumption of an IC engine (slow speed diesel

engine).

13.2 Introduction:

The term slow refers to diesel engines that operate within the approximate speed range
100 to 120 revolutions per minute. The slow speed two stroke cycle diesel is used for
main propulsion units since it can be directly coupled to the propeller and shafting. It
provides high power, can burn low grade fuel and has high thermal efficiency. Two-
stroke engines have a limited rotational frequency and their charge exchange is more
difficult, which means that they are usually bigger than four-stroke engines. Low-speed
diesel engines (as used in ships and other applications where overall engine weight is
relatively unimportant) often have an effective efficiency of up to 55%. Like medium-
speed engines, low-speed engines are started with compressed air, and they use heavy oil
as their primary fuel. The cylinders and crankcase are isolated, which reduces
contamination and permits the use of specialized lubricating oil in cylinders and bearings.
The use of two stroke cycle usually means there are no inlet and exhaust valves. This
reduces maintenance and simplifies engine construction.

13.2.1 Slow Speed Diesel Engine: (lab Type of Workstation)

Manufactured by PECO
Manufacturing Year 1978
Model 3793
Stroke Cycle Two stroke
RPM 120 maximum
Cylinder Bore 260-900mm
BMEP 190-300 psi

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 Figure-1: Slow Speed Diesel Engine (One sided View)

Figure-2: Slow Speed Diesel Engine (Front View)

13.2.2 PECO Company History:

Pakistan Engineering Company Limited (PECO), previously known as Batala
Engineering Company (BECO), is a Pakistani engineering company based in Lahore,
Pakistan. It formerly manufactured diesel engines, aircraft parts, and other materials
which they exported abroad before nationalization.
13.2.3 Engine Design:
The principle design parameters for a low speed diesel engine are:
1) High power weight ratio
2) Simple, strong, compact and space saving.
3) High reliability
4) Able to maintain the fact that components are smaller and lighter than those for slow
speed diesels makes for easier handling.
5) Easily capable of adoption to un-manned operation
6) Low fuel and lubricating oil consumption
7) High thermal efficiency
8) Low cast and simple to install

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13.2.4 Types of Diesel Engine on the basis of Stroke Cycle:
Either 2 or 4 stroke cycle single acting turbo charged with inline or vee cylinder
configuration. The main choice is certainly at present, for the four-stroke engine due to the
following reasons.
1. They are capable of operating satisfactory on same heavy oils which are used for slow
speed two stroke engines.
2. Effective scavenging.
3. Higher mean piston speed which will give greater power.
4. Engine can operate effectively with turbocharger out of commission, this would
present a considerable problem with some two-stroke engine of the medium speed
type.
5. Turbocharger power and size can be reduced.
6. It is also claimed that the fuel consumption would be reduced.
7. To reduce inertia forces use is made of aluminum alloy skirted piston or complete
aluminum alloy pistons. Inertia forces must be taken into account for bearing loads.
Important in trunk piston engines (which are the majority of medium and high speed
diesels) where the guide surfaces is the cylinder liner, the smaller the side thrust the
less the friction and wear.

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13.3 Slow Speed Diesel Engine Parts:
1) Flywheel
2) Load Tension Belt
3) Starter Handle
4) Exhaust Manifold
5) Engine Coolant (Fresh water)
6) Oil Level Gauge
7) Weights
8) Starter knob
1. Flywheel:

A flywheel is a mechanical device specifically designed to efficiently store rotational

energy, which is proportional to the square of its rotational speed and its mass. Flywheels
resist changes in rotational speed by their moment of inertia and in order to change a
flywheel's stored energy (without changing its mass) its rotational speed must be
increased or decreased. Since flywheels act as mechanical energy storage devices, they
are the kinetic-energy-storage. In the following slow speed diesel engine model, the
flywheel is to carry load which is attached through the tension belt and belt is further
carrying load on an hanger. The purpose is to find efficiency and brake power of the diesel
engine while continuously applying different conditions like increasing load or
decreasing load.

Common uses of a flywheel include:

 Smoothing the power output of an energy source. For example, flywheels are used
in reciprocating engines because the active torque from the individual pistons is
intermittent.
 Energy storage systems.
 Delivering energy at rates beyond the ability of an energy source. This is achieved
by collecting energy in a flywheel over time and then releasing it quickly, at rates
that exceed the abilities of the energy source.
 Controlling the orientation of a mechanical system, gyroscope and reaction wheel.

Figure-3: Flywheel

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2. Starter Handle:

A starter handle is a device used to rotate (crank) an internal-combustion engine so as to

initiate the engine's operation under its own power. Starters can be electric, pneumatic, or
hydraulic. In the case of very large engines, the starter can even be another internal-
combustion engine.

Internal combustion engines are feedback systems, which, once started, rely on the inertia
from each cycle to initiate the next cycle. In a four-stroke engine, the third stroke releases
energy from the fuel, powering the fourth (exhaust) stroke and also the first two (intake,
compression) strokes of the next cycle, as well as powering the engine's external load. To
start the first cycle at the beginning of any particular session, the first two strokes must be
powered in some other way than from the engine itself. The starter motor is used for this
purpose and it is not required once the engine starts running and its feedback loop
becomes self- sustaining.

Figure-4: Starter Handle

13.4 Does RPM Affect Fuel Consumption?

There is a direct relationship with RPM and fuel consumption. RPM (revolutions per
minute) is a measure of how many times the engine turns over in a minute. For every two
revolutions a cylinder undergoes the combustion phase: where a mixture of air and fuel is
injected into the cylinder, and then combusted to produce energy that drives the wheels.
So, in terms of fuel consumption let’s say each combustion phase uses 1mL of fuel. If you
have a four-cylinder car at 1000RPM is going through 2000 combustion phases per
minute. (4 cylinders x 500 combustion phases per cylinder). That’s 2000mL of fuel per
minute. That same car at 4000RPM is going through 8000 combustion phases per minute.
(4 cylinders x 2000 combustion phases per cylinder.) That’s 8000mL of fuel per minute.
So, we can see that the higher the RPMs the higher the fuel consumption.

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13.5 Experimental Procedure

Equipment:
 Slow speed diesel engine
 Fuel gauge
 Stopwatch
 Tachometer

13.6 Pre-Operational Safety steps

1) Locate and ensure you are familiar with all machine operations and controls.
2) Check the flywheel.
3) Overall area check.
4) Ensure the water input 5 LPM.
5) Check the lubrication level with oil level gauge that must be at satisfactory level.
6) Change oil if it is at low level.
7) Plug the starting handle properly.

a) Procedure:
 Fill the fuel gauge to known level. Also check the oil level if not on the safe level,
first fill it before proceed further.
 Start the engine. For starting the engine attach the starter handle and start rotating it.
 When the rotation speed of starting handle is maximum (maintaining a desired speed),
switch on the starter knob to start the ignition.
 From a specific graduation note start time and make a table to note down all readings.
 Measure speed with the help of tachometer on flywheel and note all readings.
 At another prominent graduation note run time again.
 Go to step no 3.
 Take at least five reading.

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b) Precautions:

 Loose clothing not allowed.

 Also maintain the safe distance when device is in operation.
 Put off the emergency lever when any mishap occurs.
 Ensure the water flow after the starting of engine.
 For operating engine training is necessary.
 Free of electrical Shock.
 Do not stand before flywheel direction.
 Do not touch the moving parts of the engine.
 Do not put the hard tools near the moving part of the engine.

13.6 Observations and Calculations:

Sr No. Speed (RPM) Time (Seconds) Fuel Consumed Fuel

Consumption/time
1 OZ Kg
2
3
4

13.7 Graphs:
 Fuel consumption vs. RPM
 Fuel consumption vs. Time

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13.8 Observations:

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 LAB REPORT

Prepare the Lab Report as below:

13.1 TITLE:

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13.2 OBJECTIVE

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13.3 APPARATUS

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13.4 PROCDURE

(Note: Use all steps you studied in LAB SESSION of this tab to write
procedure and to complete the experiment)

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13.5 DISCUSSION:

Q1: Write three safety precautions of slow speed diesel engine.

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Q2: How we calculate the fuel consumption of slow speed diesel engine?

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13.6 Conclusion /Summary

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