FreeOnlineCal

How to calculate Brake Specific Fuel Consumption (BSFC)?

Brake Specific Fuel Consumption (BSFC) is a measure of the fuel efficiency of an engine. It represents the rate of fuel consumption per unit of power output. A lower BSFC value indicates higher fuel efficiency.

The formula for BSFC is:

BSFC (g/kWh) = (Fuel Consumption Rate (kg/hr) × 1000) / Engine Power Output (kW)

Using the BSFC calculator: an example

Let's calculate the BSFC for an engine with the following parameters:

Step-by-step calculation:

• Fuel Consumption Rate: 15 kg/hr
• Engine Power Output: 75 kW

Using the formula:

BSFC = (15 kg/hr × 1000) / 75 kW

BSFC = 15000 / 75

BSFC = 200 g/kWh

The Brake Specific Fuel Consumption for this engine is 200 g/kWh.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What does a lower BSFC indicate?
   A lower BSFC value indicates that the engine is more fuel-efficient, meaning it consumes less fuel to produce a given amount of power.
2. Why is BSFC important?
   BSFC is crucial for evaluating engine performance and efficiency, especially in applications where fuel economy is critical, such as in vehicles, power generation, and industrial machinery.
3. Can BSFC be negative?
   No, BSFC cannot be negative. Fuel consumption rate and power output are always positive values, so their ratio will also be positive.
4. How does engine load affect BSFC?
   BSFC typically varies with engine load. Engines are usually most efficient (lowest BSFC) at a specific load and RPM range, often around 70-80% of their maximum load.