Precise instrumentation of a diesel single-cylinder research engine

The accuracy of any empirical result is a direct consequence of the quality of experimental setup and the strict control over testing conditions. For internal combustion engines, a large number of parameters that also exhibit complex interdependence may significantly affect the engine performance. Therefore, this work describes the essentials required to establish a high-quality diesel engine research laboratory. A single-cylinder diesel engine is taken as the fundamental building block and the requirements for all essential sub-systems including fuel, intake, exhaust, coolant and exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) are laid out. The measurement and analysis of cylinder pressure, and exhaust gas sampling/conditioning requirements for emission measurement are discussed in detail. The independent control of EGR and intake boost is also highlighted. The measurement and analysis techniques are supported with empirical data from a single-cylinder diesel engine setup. The emphasis is on providing the necessary guidelines for setting up a fully-instrumented diesel engine test laboratory.