Mechanical Department

Internal Combustion Lab.

(0620520)

EXPERIMENT NO. 3
WILLAN’S LINE METHOD

Objective: Study of Willan’s line method for determination of friction power for single cylinder
diesel engine.

Theory:
The difference between indicated power and the brake power output of an engine is the friction
power. Almost invariably, the difference between a good engine and a bad engine is due to difference
between their frictional losses.
Friction power includes the frictional losses and the pumping losses. During suction and exhaust
strokes the piston must move against a gaseous pressure and power required to do this is called the
“pumping losses”. The friction loss is made up of the energy loss due to friction between the piston
and cylinder walls, piston rings and cylinder walls, and between the crank shaft and camshaft and
their bearings, as well as by the loss incurred by driving the essential accessories, such as water
pump, ignition unit etc.
The frictional losses are ultimately dissipated to the cooling system and exhaust as they appear in the
form of frictional heat and this influences the cooling capacity required. Moreover, lower friction
means availability of more brake power; hence brake specific fuel consumption is lower. One of the
method for measurement of frictional power is Willan's Line Method or Fuel Rate Extrapolation.
In Willan’s line method, gross fuel consumption vs. BP at a constant speed is plotted and the graph is
extrapolated back to zero fuel consumption as illustrated in Figure1 The point where this graph cuts
the BP axis in an indication of the friction power of the engine at that speed. This negative work
represents the combined loss due to mechanical friction, pumping and blow by.
In petrol engine, we keep the air-fuel mixture constant and vary the amount of the mixture intake for
required torque or power. This is called quantitative governing. In diesel engine, we draw a constant
volume of air (compressed) and vary the fuel injected. Technically, we alter the quality of the air -
fuel mixture, this is called qualitative governing.
In SI engine, at low speeds, the air mixture intake is very low (quantitative governing). Hence, there
will be a low pressure region created inside the cylinder due to which, there will be pumping losses.
Therefore, there will be more friction power than actual, we get erroneous output if we use Willan’s
line test for SI engine.
If we use the same test for CI engines, there is qualitative governing and hence, there will be fixed
amount of air entering the cylinder and no negative pressure and pumping losses occurs. So, we get a
relatively closer value of friction power, the errors are greatly minimized.
So, Willan's line method is applicable only to Diesel (C.I) engines.

Page 1 of 3
Eng. Azad F. Otoum
 Mechanical Department
Internal Combustion Lab.
(0620520)

Fig. 1 Willan’s line method

The Brake Power can be calculated using the equation:

BP = 2 π N T

Where:
N: The engine rotational speed in [rev. /sec.]
T: The engine torque measured from the dynamometer in [N.m]

The fuel mass flow rate can be calculated using the equation:
m& f = V
t
Where:
⍴: The fuel density in [kg /m3].
V: The fuel sample volume = 8 ml
t: Time needed to consume the fuel sample volume in [sec.]

EXPERIMEENT PROCEDURE:
1. Check the level of the diesel in tank and lime up with the fuel pump through fuel measuring
apparatus.
2. Start the engine by hand cranking with no load condition.
3. As the engine pick up speed, Open the cooling water valve.
4. Put a light Load in the engine with loading screw.
5. Achieving steady state condition, note down all the necessary data (fuel consumption, time,
speed, torque, and the Load ).
6. After noting down repeat the steps 4 and 5 for different load.
7. Before stop the Engine remove the load and run the engine on no-load for two minutes.
8. Stop the engine.
9. Turn off cooling water supply to engine after one minute.

Page 2 of 3
Eng. Azad F. Otoum
 Mechanical Department
Internal Combustion Lab.
(0620520)
THE SPECIFICATIONS OF THE HARDWARE USED
The device used in this experiment has the following specifications:
Diesel Engine: One-Cylinders, Four-Stroke Engine.

RESULTS
The following table of data must be filled in order to draw the relation between The fuel mass flow rate (m&
f) versus Brake Power (BP). Extrapolate the best-fit line to cross the (m& f ) axis is fuel flow rate to
overcome friction, and to cross the Brake power (BP) axis (Friction power).

Trial Speed, N Torque, T Brake Power Time, m& f

[rev. /sec.] [N.m] BP [W] t [sec.] [kg /sec.]

1
2

7
mf (Kg/sec)

BP (W)

Page 3 of 3
Eng. Azad F. Otoum