Approaches in Quantifying Engine Power

Abstract

This paper reviews the theoretical methodologies used to quantify engine power, focusing on models rooted in thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and combustion kinetics. With the increasing demand for high-efficiency engines and strict emission regulations, theoretical tools play a vital role in estimating power output without extensive empirical testing. The paper critically examines classical approaches like the air-standard cycle analysis, mean effective pressure calculations, and zero-dimensional thermodynamic models, alongside modern computational techniques including quasi-dimensional modeling and heat-release analysis using pressure data. Furthermore, the paper explores how fuel properties, compression ratio, and engine geometry influence the predictive accuracy of theoretical models. A comparison of different modeling strategies highlights the trade-offs between complexity, computational cost, and precision. Six figures illustrate the diversity of modeling outcomes, covering P–V diagrams, temperature profiles, performance maps, bar plots, pie charts of loss distributions, and 3D contour plots of cylinder temperature. The discussion provides insight into the validity range of each method, proposes guidelines for appropriate model selection, and suggests future directions for model enhancement through hybridization and machine learning.