# Rope brake dynamometer: Definition, Principle, Diagram, Parts, Working, Advantages and disadvantages [with pdf]

Contents

## What is rope brake dynamometer?

The rope brake dynamometer is the device that measures the power of the engine shaft by applying frictional resistance to the motion of the shaft by use of rope.

It simply consists of pulley and rope arrangement along with the spring balance to measure the tension in ropes.

The rope brake dynamometer measures the torque required to stop the shaft of the prime mover.

By using the torque and speed of the shaft we can calculate the power of the shaft of the prime mover.

## Rope brake dynamometer working principle:

The rope dynamometer measures the power by absorbing all the energy of the engine or prime mover by means of frictional resistance.

Therefore, the shaft power is given by,

Shaft power = Frictional resistance

## Rope brake dynamometer parts:

The rope brake drum dynamometer consists of the following components:-

1] Pulley or Flywheel:- The pulley is mounted on the shaft of the prime mover whose power has to be measured.

2] Rope:- The rope is wound over the circumference of the pulley. The rope generates frictional resistance to stop the brake drum.

One end of the rope is attached to the spring balance while another end is attached to the dead weight.

3] Wooden block:- The wooden blocks are placed onto the rope to avoid the slip of the rope over the pulley.

4] Dead weight:- The dead weight is mounted at the bottom of the rope that assures the tightening of the rope over the pulley.

5] Spring balance:- The spring balance is connected to the upper end of the rope that is used to measure the tension in the rope.

6] Cooling water:- The heat generated by the friction between rope and pulley is carried away by the flow of cooling water.

## Rope brake dynamometer working:

Following is the procedure to measure brake power using a rope brake dynamometer.

1] Connect the pulley of the rope brake dynamometer to the shaft of the engine or any prime mover.

2] Start the prime mover or the engine and check the engine rotates at a constant speed.

3] Measure the speed of the pulley of the dynamometer by using a tachometer.

4] Apply the dead weight at the end of the rope until the brake drum will stop to rotate.

5] Measure the dead weight and the tension displayed on the spring balance.

6] Now by using the equation for power calculation, we can calculate the power of the engine or any prime mover.

## Rope brake dynamometer formula:

The brake power of the shaft of the prime mover is calculated by the using following formula:-

P = T \times \omega

Where the frictional torque T is given by,

Frictional torque, (T) = (W – t) x \frac{D+d}{2}

Where,
W = Dead weight (N or lb)
t = Tension in balance (N or lb)
D = Pulley diameter (m or ft)
d = Rope diameter (m or ft)

The angular speed of the shaft is given by,

\omega =\frac{2\pi N}{60}

Where,
N = Engine speed (RPM)

Therefore power of engine shaft is given by,

P = (W – t) \times \frac{D+d}{2}\times \frac{2\pi N}{60}

If the rope diameter is much less than pulley diameter,

P = (W – t) \times \frac{D}{2}\times \frac{2\pi N}{60}

P = (W – t) \times  R\times \frac{2\pi N}{60}

1. It is easy to construct the rope brake dynamometer.
2. Easy to measure the power using rope brake dynamometer.
3. Less expensive method to measure power.