Calculating Cooling & Alternator Losses for Engines

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the calculation of power losses in engines, specifically focusing on cooling and alternator losses in relation to the overall engine power. The scope includes theoretical considerations and practical implications of these losses in automotive engineering.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Dean questions whether cooling and alternator losses can be approximated as a percentage of the engine's power, having previously only considered friction losses.
  • One participant suggests that if constant power and consumption are assumed, cooling and alternator losses could indeed be viewed as a percentage of engine power, though they note that these factors are not constant in reality.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus, and the discussion includes differing assumptions about the constancy of power and consumption in engines.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the assumption of constant power and consumption, which may not hold true in practical scenarios. The discussion does not resolve the complexities involved in accurately calculating these losses.

dean barry
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When dealing with power losses from engine to drive wheel(s) i ignored losses other than straight friction, can cooling and alternator losses be taken as roughly a percentage of the cars engine power ?
Thanks
Dean
 
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Thanks for the post! Sorry you aren't generating responses at the moment. Do you have any further information, come to any new conclusions or is it possible to reword the post?
 
No problem, will research further on the net, thanks though.
Dean
 
Hi Dean,

Power losses are energy losses in time. If you assume a constant power of the engine, and also assume a constant cooling and alternator consumption (not constant in reality), then "roughly" those will be a percentage of your engine power.
 
Thanks for your input.
Dean
 

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