Ford Motor Company
Dynomometer Building Diesel Fuel Upgrade
The Dynamometer Building located in Ford Motor Company’s Research and Engineering Center, in Dearborn, Michigan, previously used a variety of fuels in conjunction with Test Cell operations. Regular gasoline, premium gasoline, and methanol fuels were being utilized, each having a specific fuel distribution system. Since methanol fuel was no longer needed for testing and diesel fuel was necessary, an upgrade in the fuel supply was required.
Twenty-six (26) Engine Test Cells in the facility were upgraded to provide a diesel fuel supply.
This project included the conversion and installation of fuel lines as required to provide these Engine Test Cells with diesel fuel capability.
Fuel storage and distribution systems, fuel distribution racks and salvage systems at the Fuel House were also converted and modified as appropriate. Fourteen (14) headers for the fuel rack were added to accommodate the operation of engines with diesel fuel.
In addition to fuel distribution system modifications and revisions, dynamometers and associated controllers were also replaced for selected Test Cells, along with miscellaneous revisions and upgrades to other Test Cells in order to accommodate diesel engine operations. The dynamometer revisions included the replacement of six (6) dynamometers with tandem dynamometers. This change facilitates the testing of transmissions for four (4) wheel drive vehicles.
Finally, the scope of the project was increased to include the review and analysis of the existing thermal oxidizer. Given the operating characteristics of diesel fuel operating engines, it was important for Ford to know the new capacity of the thermal oxidizer under varying operating parameters. The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality emissions requirements and Ford engine operating parameters were used as the basis of the evaluation.
