Engine test stand

An engine test stand is a facility used to develop, characterize and test engines. The facility, often offered as a product to automotive <a href="/facts/Original_Equipment_Manufacturer/hmUhIWaS">OEMs</a>, allows engine operation in different operating regimes and offers measurement of several physical variables associated with the engine operation.
A sophisticated engine test stand houses several <a href="/facts/Sensors/RN8SXbjs">sensors</a> (or <a href="/facts/Transducers/YS7zfv9d">transducers</a>), <a href="/facts/Data_acquisition/W7d5DrPl">data acquisition</a> features and <a href="/facts/Actuators/mF9qVJJR">actuators</a> to control the engine state. The sensors would measure several physical variables of interest which typically include:

<ul><li><a href="/facts/Crankshaft/oYCe9nB3">crankshaft</a> <a href="/facts/Torque/KcrcvNtV">torque</a> and <a href="/facts/Angular_velocity/2n8JljAT">angular velocity</a></li>
<li>intake air and <a href="/facts/Fuel_consumption/URhdQ7Wl">fuel consumption</a> rates, often detected using volumetric and/or gravimetric measurement methods</li>
<li><a href="/facts/Air-fuel_ratio/l2BGvlyw">air-fuel ratio</a> for the intake mixture, often detected using an <a href="/facts/Exhaust_gas_oxygen_sensor/Yj0rxfdo">exhaust gas oxygen sensor</a></li>
<li>environment pollutant concentrations in the exhaust gas such as <a href="/facts/Carbon_monoxide/CKuLtEMJ">carbon monoxide</a>, different configurations of <a href="/facts/Hydrocarbons/Dcg95Ju5">hydrocarbons</a> and <a href="/facts/Nitrogen_oxides/ved7hE6X">nitrogen oxides</a>, <a href="/facts/Sulfur_dioxide/jDK1fIDs">sulfur dioxide</a>, and <a href="/facts/Atmospheric_particulate_matter/RleGr5E6">particulate matter</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Temperatures/QyGe4gmj">temperatures</a> and gas <a href="/facts/Pressures/eyc37GRG">pressures</a> at several locations on the engine body such as <a href="/facts/Engine_oil/l5Jejspn">engine oil</a> temperature, <a href="/facts/Spark_plug/Y9lG10hg">spark plug</a> temperature, <a href="/facts/Exhaust_gas/kLpq1eUX">exhaust gas</a> temperature, <a href="/facts/Intake_manifold/VDPnE747">intake manifold</a> pressure</li>
<li>atmospheric conditions such as temperature, pressure, and humidity</li></ul>
Information gathered through the sensors is often processed and logged through data acquisition systems. Actuators allow for attaining a desired engine state (often characterized as a unique combination of engine torque and speed). For gasoline engines, the actuators may include an intake throttle actuator, a loading device for the engine such as an <a href="/facts/Induction_motor/DgTnMmJM">induction motor</a>. The engine test stands are often custom-packaged considering requirements of the OEM customer. They often include <a href="/facts/Microcontroller/MKrnAhnm">microcontroller</a>-based feedback control systems with following features:

<ul><li><a href="/facts/Feedback_mechanism/XnuWH3zp">closed-loop</a> desired speed operation (useful towards characterization of steady-state or transient engine performance)</li>
<li>closed-loop desired torque operation (useful towards emulation of in-vehicle, on-road scenarios, thereby enabling an alternate way of characterization of steady-state or transient engine performance)</li></ul>

Engine test stand open-in-new

Engine test stand