What is a hydraulic dynamometer?

Answer 1

Hydraulic dynamometers are machines that measure the power of an engine by using a cell filled with liquid to increase its load. Dynamometers, dynos or dynometers are used extensively in automotive and recreational vehicle applications because determining torque capacity, maximum rotary speed and maximum power absorption is important and valuable information for many drivers and riders. Hydraulic dynamometers are stationary and take measurements without requiring removal of the engine. These machines are also called water brake dynos because they use water or oil in the load cell. They are able to create different loads on the engine as well as maintain a steady RPM rate while testing, unlike inertia or chassis dynamometers. Because of this, these dynos are often used for troubleshooting tuning problems in the engine and determining if a part is not performing. In this way they contribute to a good overall power instead of a machine with a high horsepower peak. However, hydraulic dynos are more complicated than systems that use rolling barrels because of the way the dyno is attached. Also, the data requires more effort and knowledge to decipher because most hydraulic dynamometers are analog. Despite the few difficulties, these machines are still used in automotive, aircraft, aerospace, marine and industrial processes to measure chain or belt drives, gearboxes, fluid power systems, gas or diesel systems or transmissions in vehicles and motorcycles