Over the past few years, the fuel mass measurement gained in importance to record the consumed fuel mass and the specific fuel consumption [g/kWh] with high accuracy.
Measuring instruments, such as positive displacement meters, methods based on the burette or the Wheatstone bridge mass flow meter measure either the volumetric flow and a temperature-dependant fuel density correction is necessary or they have old technology and therefore poor accuracy and repeatability.
A new-generation Coriolis sensor featuring an ideal measurement range for engine test beds but still with flow depending pressure drop has been integrated in a fuel meter to ensure that no influence is given to the engine behaviour for example after engine load change. The new Coriolis meter offers better accuracy and repeatability, gas bubble venting and easy test bed integration. For returnless fuel injection systems the fuel system supplies the fuel pressure.
An outstanding feature is the built in calibration system (patent pending) which reduces the downtime.
Even the tiniest fluctuation in fuel volume between meter and engine, caused by fluctuations in temperature or the formation of vapour bubbles, must be prevented during measurement. Therefore fuel temperature conditioning systems are required and will also be discussed in this paper.