×
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Log In

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips Forums!
  • Talk With Other Members
  • Be Notified Of Responses
    To Your Posts
  • Keyword Search
  • One-Click Access To Your
    Favorite Forums
  • Automated Signatures
    On Your Posts
  • Best Of All, It's Free!

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Students Click Here

Diesel Engine Fuel Consumption
3

Diesel Engine Fuel Consumption

Diesel Engine Fuel Consumption

(OP)
Greetings everyone!

I am trying to work out the fuel consumption of a ferry that uses a diesel engine (Detroit Diesel 8V92Ta). I have attached the fuel consumption chart in this post. The idling rpm of the engine is around 200 rpm but the minimum rpm given in the fuel consumption chart is given to be 1200 rpm. The problem is the fuel consumption is provided for an rpm range from 1200-2000 rpm. What about values below 1200 rpm?

Thank you for your help :)

Replies continue below

Recommended for you

RE: Diesel Engine Fuel Consumption

The idle RPM is 400 for some applications and 500 for others. Where did you get 200?

RE: Diesel Engine Fuel Consumption

(OP)
I found the data published in one of the reports published by Transport NSW. Considering the idle speed is 400-500 rpm, how do I find the Fuel usage at that rpm when the chart starts at 1200 rpm? Thanks

RE: Diesel Engine Fuel Consumption

It won't work regardless. The chart is fuel consumption at maximum continuous rating. Your ferry operates on the propeller curve which means the engine will be operating significantly below the maximum continuous rating at all speeds below maximum rated speed if your propellers are pitched correctly.

For an engine that size the idle fuel consumption should be around 2 gallons per hour.

RE: Diesel Engine Fuel Consumption

If you're operating at 4 to 500 rom, your engine is far too big and will be very inefficient.

Why so slow?

Remember - More details = better answers
Also: If you get a response it's polite to respond to it.

RE: Diesel Engine Fuel Consumption

(OP)
So, my problem statement is that I have the required power output as a function of time that the engine has to output, I have the corresponding RPM as well for the cycle.


I want to calculate the corresponding fuel consumption for that cycle. The engine in use is the Detroit Diesel Engine 8V92Ta (chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.dieselrebuildkits.com/wp-content/uploa...).


Any suggestions or help with this is greatly appreciated.

RE: Diesel Engine Fuel Consumption

Your problem is unclear. If you have RPM, you have a chart of consumption so what's the issue?

Remember - More details = better answers
Also: If you get a response it's polite to respond to it.

RE: Diesel Engine Fuel Consumption

(OP)
Thank you for your reply @LittleInch. The chart provided in the data sheet is only for range of 1300-2000 rpm. What about lower rpms? For example, the engine idles around 600 rpm. The chart does not cover the entire range of rpms that the engine operates in.

RE: Diesel Engine Fuel Consumption

Tug has given you this information.

In any event consumption is determined by many factors and hence a chart can only give you a guide.

The engine should be operating in the range above 1200 rpm. That's a pretty decent sized engine so should be operated properly. Engines which are too big for their duty have poor economy, increased risk of coking and deposits and should be replaced if the power demand is too low.

Actual usage is the only way to get clear numbers.

Remember - More details = better answers
Also: If you get a response it's polite to respond to it.

RE: Diesel Engine Fuel Consumption

The answer to this question might help us help you: "Why do you need to know this?"

Related question, "Why do you need to figure this out on paper, rather than asking the actual operator what is really happening?"

RE: Diesel Engine Fuel Consumption

(OP)
The answer to your question Brian Peterson is because I conducted power requirement for an operating ferry. I aim on calculating the fuel consumption of the trip. The power calculations shows that at certain points the engine rpm dips below 1200 rpm. It is at those points where I cannot calculate the fuel usage.

Appreciate your efforts!

RE: Diesel Engine Fuel Consumption

The fuel consumption for the trip will be more affected by wind and water currents than what exact RPM the engine is running.

RE: Diesel Engine Fuel Consumption

If you make some assumptions you can make an estimate.

You can build a propeller curve:

power = (propeller constant) x (rpm³)

P=C(N³)

C= 435/2100³

Use this and the assume the BSFC number from your chart is correct even at the lower power for each RPM point. This will give you a ballpark number for fuel consumption. The numbers will be more accurate at loads above 30% or so as the BSFC curve for typical engines is very flat at higher loads.

RE: Diesel Engine Fuel Consumption

Quote:

... because I conducted power requirement for an operating ferry. I aim on calculating the fuel consumption of the trip.

And why not ask the operator how much they're using, instead of relying on a calculation that is sure to have significant uncertainty in it?

Obviously I'm missing something here. It's an existing engine in an existing application and actual field experience ought to be available, thus no longer requiring a calculation. What am I missing?

I can think of some reasons why it might not be available, but which reason it might be would require guessing on my part, and I don't want to guess, so I'm asking.

RE: Diesel Engine Fuel Consumption

@TugboatEng. What is happening at 30% load on your chart where diesel BSFC drops to 50 g/kW.hr?

Whoops - just realised it is a trendline issue.

je suis charlie

RE: Diesel Engine Fuel Consumption

The dangers of curve fitting! That's an overfitting error. In fact it's a dodgy graph, at 0% load by definition BSFC is infinite.

You get much better idea of the reason for the shape of that graph if you look at the curves of IMEP FMEP and PMEP vs load.

Cheers

Greg Locock


New here? Try reading these, they might help FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?

Red Flag This Post

Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.

Red Flag Submitted

Thank you for helping keep Eng-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members! Already a Member? Login



News


Close Box

Join Eng-Tips® Today!

Join your peers on the Internet's largest technical engineering professional community.
It's easy to join and it's free.

Here's Why Members Love Eng-Tips Forums:

Register now while it's still free!

Already a member? Close this window and log in.

Join Us             Close