In August of 2006 I was approached by Somender Singh and an associate of his on the possibility of testing his groove concept and provide an analysis on what he effects of the groove were. Several ways of testing were discussed and we came to the conclusion that a custom built dynamometer would provide the best way to perform a controlled test of the grooves and the effect. In late September 2006 I was commissioned to begin work on the dyno and so my consulting company, AutoTronixs, LLC, began work. Over the next 10 months the dyno, electronic sensing, control and data acquisition software, testing and data collection was designed and built. The following 2 months was used to collect and analyze data from a whole battery of tests. Two reports were produced on the findings on what effect the grooves were shown to have.
The first tests were normal engine running tests. These simulated normal types of engine loading as one would see going down the road, anywhere from in town to high speed on the highway. All engine running parameters, dynamometer loading and tailpipe emissions parameters were collected by the computerized data acquisition system. Exhaust gases readings were obtained by a 5 gas exhaust analyzer. Right click to download.
Running Analysis Report. Report is in PDF format. You will need Adobe Acrobat to open this document.
The second tests were ionization current tests. These tests utilized the method of applying a voltage across the spark plug after the coil spark to induce a minute current during the combustion process. This current could then be used as a combustion signature and give insight into many of the characteristics of the combustion process. This report shows graphically the combustion signatures as a function of crank angle. Right click to download.
Below are a few pictures of the dynamometer system and testing.
Note: Click on any of the following images to open larger image in new window or right click to download.
The completed Test Stand in June 2007. The blue item is a hydraulic loading cell normally used to dyno test inboard and outboard boat motors. This was used to load the test engine.
Test Stand with laptop and 5 gas exhaust analyzer connected and ready to test in June 2007.
Test Stand with laptop and 5 gas exhaust analyzer connected and ready to test in June 2007. Operator side shown.
Torque arm used to measure output torque from engine. Load cell pump can be seen behind torque arm.
Engine before stock remanufactured test head installed.
Test engine belt side. Engine speed pickups added to use teeth on timing pulley for data acquisition system monitoring.
Metal wheel added to crank pulley to generate engine position signal as seen in ionization graphs. This wheel is oriented to generate a special larger pulse at exactly TDC #1 cylinder.
EGT sensor, narrowband and wideband O2 sensors in exhasut.
Data acquisition system signal conditioning and main connector board.
Data acquisition runtime screen. All test readings display in real time. Parameters monitored directly from engine sensors, indirectly from EFI system and from 5 gas exhaust gas analyzer.
Stock remanufactured test cylinder head. Note combustion chambers and squish area.
Close up of stock combustion chamber.
A second close up of a stock combustion chamber.
Stock piston dish and valve relief area.
Combustion chamber with Singh Groove added.
Test head with Singh Grooves added and reassembled.
Measuring combustion chamber volume on test head.
Water acts to increase the octane of gasoline similar to lead. Several tests with humid air were performed. An ultrasonic transducer was used to generate a fog of humidity to be drawn into the engine.
Test stand with ducting attached to draw in the humid air from the fogging device.
