TH-3128 Engine Test Bed

The TH-3128 engine test bed is a self-contained, bench-mounted unit for studying engine performance under load. A resiliently mounted steel base plate carries the engine and the dynamometer inside a steel framework. The same framework also holds the fuel tanks, valves and air induction system. The instrumentation and control panel sit on the front frame. In practice, students measure the torque, brake power and fuel consumption of small internal combustion engines.

An eddy current dynamometer applies the braking load to the engine. It has a rating of 10 kW, 50 N·m and 13,000 rpm. Its controller can hold constant speed, constant torque or constant power. First, students measure fuel use with two 5 litre tanks and a weighing balance. Then they read the air flow rate from the airflow meter in the air inlet pipe. After that, they calculate specific fuel consumption, air-to-fuel ratio, volumetric efficiency and brake mean effective pressure (BMEP). Finally, they plot performance curves at full and partial load.

Because the petrol and diesel engines are easily interchangeable, students can compare different engine types on the same unit. Optional modules also add PV diagrams, exhaust gas analysis, an exhaust gas calorimeter and LabVIEW-based data acquisition software for Windows. Bestech Australia supplies the TH-3128 with on-site training and commissioning support available.