View Full Version : Flow Testing of Exhausts
I'm wondering how people 'measure' exhausts
If anyone knows if it's possible to flow test an exhaust or not I'd be interested.
I imagine for a Turbo you want it as free flowing as possible?
Extra bends etc wouuld be removed as would all the welds.
Does anyone know where to get a flow tester?
M
:devil:think you dyno them, run the engine with exhaust on, because impulse tuning can make such a difference.you get pulses of gas shooting out of each cylinder, you dont want say the impulse of cylinder one falling on top of two, etc etc. you want each pulse to just be cleared as the next pulse comes along that way the vacuun behind each pulse draws the one preceeding along..............
chriskaven
08-06-2002, 16:51
Redman is correct in what he is saying to some extent, although it is really the manifold runner lengths that determine the pulsing effect, and not the exhaust itself. However, on a turbocharged engine the pulsing effect is greatly reduced due to the turbo "chopping" up the flow and therefore negating most of the useful effect from pulse tuning.
The normal way an exhaust system is measured for flow is by measuring the back pressure of the system. In my experience (I work in Advanced exhaust and emissions development for Ford), this is usually carried out by welding a boss onto the exhaust system for a pressure sensor to fit into(not really practical to carry out on your brand new exaust system!).
In terms of performance yes a free flowing exhaust is best although increasing the bore size is not always the best route to take.
:devil: i bow to your superior knowledge but then im only an amateur;)
Scoobster
13-06-2002, 13:34
Just out of interest Chris:
Do you know any of the CAE analysts that work down there in Dagenham.. ??
I have a good friend who I went to Uni with who works as an CAE analyst for Ford (Ian Hargreaves).. just wondered if you knew him..
As for testing of flow through an exhaust.. do you mean the flow of exhaust gases from the engine? or the flow of them through the full system to exit.. ??
If the latter is the case then it can simply be done by monitoring the flow of gases from the tailpipe using a calibrated flow meter.
You can buy flow meters from loads of places.. try 'Cole Palmer' they do decent stuff and I have a flow meter I use for HVAC systems in pharmaceutical facilities that I got from them.. works a treat.. not thought of sticking it at the end of my exhaust though.. lol
chriskaven
13-06-2002, 22:31
I work in Dunton not Dagenham. I dont think there is any design or CAE facilities at Dagenham at the moment, maybe you mean Dunton??
No I dont know the guy - I looked the name up on the system and there is an Ian Hargreaves that works in Dunton - dunno if it is the same guy
Yes it is the later so maybe you could measure back pressure using a flow meter, although i dont know if it would be as accurate?!
Let me know if anyone tries this and gets some results
Doesnt the KKK03 turbo need a decent amount of back pressure to stop the turbo seals from leaking or even blowing ?
Scoobster
17-06-2002, 14:58
Ian uses the e-mail address of ihargrea@ so I assume that will be the guy that you looked up.
I was under the belief he was at the dagenham plant, but possibly not, I think he spends a lot of time away testing, so never really know where he is.
Haven't seen him since we went snowboarding at the beginning of the year...
I'll drop him a line and ask which site he is at. IF you do bump into him, just tell him 'You have something on your shoe' and see what response you get... if he lifts his heal up and looks at it, give him the follow up line of 'hellooooooooo sailer'... That would freak him out.. a line that only the 8 of us that went boarding would know (oh and now you lot.. lol).