SPECIFIC FUEL CONSUMPTION Specific fuel consumption is defined by: Sfc = mf/W Where: mf = rate of fuel flow into

engine W = engine power Brake power gives brake specific fuel consumption: Bsfc = mf/Wb Indicated power gives inndicated specific fuel consumption: Isfc = mf/Wi Other examples of specific fuel consumption parameters can be defined as follows: Fsfc = friction specific fuel consumption Igsfc = indicated gross specific fuel consumption Insfc = indicated net specific fuel consumption Psfc = pumping specific fuel consumption It als follows that
m=

Wb / Wi = ( mf /Wi ) / ( mf / Wb ) = (isfc) / (bsfc)

Where:

= mechanical efficiency of engine

Brake specific fuel consumption decreases as engine speed increases, reaches as a minimum, and then increases at high speeds (fig. 2-12). Fuel consumption increases at high speed because of greater friction losses. At low engine speed, the longer time per cycle allows more heat loss and fuel consumption goes up. Figure 2-13 shows how bsfc also depends on compression ratio and fuel equivalence ratio. It decreases with higher compression ratio due to higher thermal efficiency. It is lowest when combustion occurs in a mixture with a fuel equivalence ratio near one ( = 1 ). The further from stoichiometric combustion, either rich or clean, the higher will be the fuel consumption. Brake specific fuel consumption generally decreases with engine size, being best (lowest) for very large engines (see fig. 2-14).

Specific fuel consumption is generally given in units of gm/kW-hr or lbm/hp-hr. For transportation vehicles it si common to use fuel economy in terms of distance traveled per unit of fuel, such as miles per gallon (mpg). In SI units it is common to use the inverse of this, with (L/100km) being a common unit. To decreases air pollution and depletion of fossil fuels, laws have been enacted requiring better vehicle fuel economy. Since the early 1970s, when most

automobiles got less than 15 mpg (15.7 L/100 km) using gasoline. Great strides have been made in improving fuel economy. Many modern automobiles now get between 30 and 40 mpg (7.8 and 5.9 L/100 km). With some small vehicles as high as 60 mpg (3.9 L/100 km). Figure 2-12. brake specific fuel consumptiion as a function of engine speed. Fuel consumption decerases as engine speed increases due to tho shorties tie for heat loss during each cycle. At higher engine speeds fuel consumption again incerases because of high friction losses. As compression ratio is increases fuel consumption decreases due to greater thermal efficiency. Figure 2-13. brake specific fuel consumption as a function of fuel equivalence ratio. Consumption is minimum at slightly lean condition, increasing with both richer and leaner mixtures. Figure 2-14. brake spcific fuel consumption as a function of engine displecement. Generally, average fuel consumption is less with larger engines. One reason for this is less heat loss due to the higher voume to surface area ratio of the combustion chamber in a large engine. Also, arger engines operate at lower speeds which reduces friction losses. Adapted from [123].