Air Motor Torque and Horsepower Measurements

ME 2900

Instructor: Blaine Lilly

Date of Submission: 12/5/17

Somang Kim
I. Introduction
Part A of the lab was to develop a physical understanding of torque. Part B and C was to observe
different ways to measure torque and horsepower of the air motor. The data for torque values are
listed below along with the observed relationship between the torque, horsepower, and angular
velocity.

II. Discussion
Part A: Qualitative Torque
The data for qualitative torque is listed below:

Distance Distance
from from
Weight Weight Handle Handle Difficulty Torque Torque Torque
(lb) (kg) (in) (cm) Rating (in*lb) (ft*lb) (N*m)
2.1 0.95 1 0.393701 0 2.1 0.175 0.036654
2.1 0.95 12 4.724409 1 25.2 2.1 0.439843
10 4.5 25.4 10 2 254 21.16667 4.41
10 4.5 12 4.724409 9 120 10 2.083465
18 8.3 63.5 25 10 1143 95.25 20.335
Table 1: Hand-Torque Data Collection

Q1. The smallest torque attempted is 2.1 inlb, 0.175 ftlb, 0.037 Nm.

Q2. The medium amount of torque produced by hand was 254 inlb, 21.16 ftlb, or 4.41 Nm.

Q3. The maximum amount of torque produce by hand was 120 inlb, 10 ftlb, or 2.08 Nm.

The calculations for the smallest torque values are listed:

[] = [] [] = 1 2.1 = 2.1
1
[] = 2.1 = 0.175
12
9.8 1
[] = 2
0.393701 0.95 = 0.036654
100
Part B: Eddy Current Dynamometer
Q4. The data for the eddy current dynamometer measurements are listed below:

Optical
Sensor Angular Load Cell Force on
Frequency Velocity Output Load Torque Power
(Hz) (RPM) (V) Cell(lb) (in*lb) (HP)
555.6 555.6 0 0 0 0
520.8 520.8 0.004687 0.058588 0.23435 0.001937
510.2 510.2 0.01719 0.214875 0.8595 0.006958
490.2 490.2 0.025 0.3125 1.25 0.009722
480.8 480.8 0.03483 0.435375 1.7415 0.013285
446.4 446.4 0.05313 0.664125 2.6565 0.018816
431 431 0.06563 0.820375 3.2815 0.022441
416.7 416.7 0.08906 1.11325 4.453 0.029442
398.8 398.8 0.1047 1.30875 5.235 0.033125
357.1 357.1 0.1281 1.60125 6.405 0.036291
Table 2: Eddy Current Dynamometer Data Collection

Q5. Calculations for the first non-zero values are listed:

1 60 1
[] = 2 = 520.8
2 60
. 004687
[] = = = 0.058
0.08 0.08
[] = = 0.058 4 = 0.234

[] = = 0.002
63025

Q6. Torque (inlb) vs. angular velocity(RPM) graph is shown below:

 Torque vs. Angular Velocity (Eddy Current)
7

5
Torque (inlb)

0
300 350 400 450 500 550 600
Angular Velocity (RPM)

Q7. Graph of power(HP) vs. angular velocity(RPM) is shown below:

Power vs. Angular Velocity (Eddy Current)

0.04

0.035

0.03

0.025
Power (HP)

0.02

0.015

0.01

0.005

0
300 350 400 450 500 550 600
Angular Velocity (RPM)

Q8. Both torque and power have a linear relationship with the angular velocity within the given
range. In this lab, as the angular velocity increased, the power and the torque decreased linearly.
 Part C: Inertial Dynamometer
Q9. The data for inertial dynamometer is listed below:

Average
Angular Angular Angular
Voltage Velocity Velocity Velocity Torque Power
Time (s) (V) (RPM) (rad/s) (RPM) t (s) (rad/s) (rad/s^2) (in*lb) (HP)
0.1 0.125 37.5 3.926875 44.535 0.06 1.473364 24.55606 39.53525 0.027937
0.16 0.1719 51.57 5.400239 67.98 0.08 3.436801 42.96001 69.16562 0.074603
0.24 0.2813 84.39 8.83704 96.105 0.06 2.453512 40.89186 65.83589 0.100391
0.3 0.3594 107.82 11.29055 121.875 0.06 2.943586 49.05976 78.98621 0.15274
0.36 0.4531 135.93 14.23414 145.305 0.12 1.963438 16.36198 26.34279 0.060734
0.48 0.5156 154.68 16.19757 166.395 0.16 2.453512 15.33445 24.68846 0.065181
0.64 0.5937 178.11 18.65109 192.18 0.18 2.946727 16.37071 26.35684 0.080369
0.82 0.6875 206.25 21.59781 215.625 0.2 1.963438 9.817188 15.80567 0.054075
1.02 0.75 225 23.56125 236.715 0.28 2.453512 8.762541 14.10769 0.052987
1.3 0.8281 248.43 26.01476
Table 3: Inertial Dynamometer Data Collection

Q10. Sample calculations for the first row is listed:

[] = 300 = 0.125 300 = 37.5

2 2
[ ] = [] = 37.5 = 3.92
60 60
+ 37.5 + 51.57
= = = 44.53
2 2
[] = = |0.1 0.16| = 0.06

[ ] = = |3.92 5.4| = 1.47

1.47
[ 2 ]= = = 24.55 2
0.06
24.55
[] = = 1.61 2 = 39.53
2
39.53 44.53
[] = = = 0.0279
63025 63025
Q11. Graph of torque vs. angular velocity for both dynamometers is shown below:

Torque vs. Angular Velocity

90

80

70

60
Torque (inlb)

50
Inertial
40 Torque (in*lb)
Torque (in*lb)
30 Eddy
20

10

0
0 100 200 300 400 500 600
Angular Velocity (RPM)

Q12. Graph of power vs. angular velocity for both dynamometers is shown below:

Power vs. Angular Velocity

0.18

0.16

0.14

0.12
Power (HP)

0.1
Inertial
0.08 Power (HP)
Power (HP)
0.06
Eddy
0.04

0.02

0
0 100 200 300 400 500 600
Angular Velocity (RPM)
Q13. Maximum torque and horsepower for eddy and inertial dynamometers and respective speeds
are listed below:

Eddy Inertial
Torque 6.405 inlb at 357.1 RPM 78.9 inlb at 107 RPM
Horsepower 0.036 HP at 357.1 RPM 0.153 HP at 107 RPM

In determining usefulness based off the concepts of Eddy currents and inertia:

The Eddy current dynamometer is more useful at higher speeds since the resistance (which
makes the data more stable) from the magnetic fields is higher when the angular velocity is
high.

The Inertial dynamometer is more useful at lower speeds because of the initial resistance of the
cylinder being rotated.

In determining usefulness based off the graph:

It is hard to determine because the two data sets do not overlap. But the Eddy current data is
less scattered at a higher speed.

III. Conclusion
The usefulness of the dynamometer is hard to determine based off the data given. The conclusions
were mainly based off the concepts of physics for eddy currents and inertia. A definite conclusion
drawn from the data would be that the horsepower and torque decreases as the angular velocity
increases.