Accession Number:

ADA576150

Title:

Effects of Temperature on the Performance of a Small Internal Combustion Engine at Altitude

Descriptive Note:

Master's thesis

Corporate Author:

AIR FORCE INST OF TECH WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB OH GRADUATE SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND MANAGEMENT

Personal Author(s):

• Husaboe, Travis D.

Report Date:

2013-03-21

Pagination or Media Count:

167.0

Abstract:

The effects of atmospheric pressure and temperature variations on the performance of small internal combustion IC engines operating at altitudes significantly above sea level are not widely documented. Using an altitude chamber and fuel-injected twostroke engine, data were collected while varying air temperature along with pressure. The peak engine power was 4.1 kW at roughly sea level standard conditions and dropped to 3.5 kW at the standard conditions for an altitude of 1.5 km. At a combination of pressure and temperature corresponding to an altitude of 3 km, peak power fell further to 2.5 kW. The combined effects of standard atmospheric conditions showed pressure dominated temperature and resulted in around a 3.5 loss of power and brake mean effective pressure BMEP along with a 3 increase in brake specific fuel consumption BSFC per 300 m increase in altitude.

Descriptors:

• *ATMOSPHERIC TEMPERATURE
• *BAROMETRIC PRESSURE
• *INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES
• ALTITUDE CHAMBERS
• FUEL INJECTION
• PEAK POWER
• PERFORMANCE(ENGINEERING)
• SEA LEVEL
• THESES
• VARIATIONS
• WEATHER

Subject Categories:

• Meteorology
• Reciprocating and Rotating Engines

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE