National Renewable Energy Laboratory

ReFUEL Laboratory

Engine Testing

Engines are certified as meeting emission regulations by the manufacturer using an engine dynamometer. These protocols, known as the Heavy-Duty Federal Test Procedures (HD-FTP), are highly standardized, and results can be readily compared between laboratories. The ReFUEL Llab features an engine dynamometer test cell that performs the HD-FTP on engines up to 400 hp, so that advanced fuels can be evaluated in a way that is meaningful to the entire engine research community.

The engine test cell features advanced controls and data acquisition that allow custom tests to be established beyond the FTP. In combination with a combustion analyzer that records information about cylinder pressure and fuel injector valve position, the engine dynamometer can be used to determine the relationship between fuel properties, engine performance, and emissions.

To learn more about engine testing, visit the Data and Resources page.