Philosophy and Design of a Flexible Medium Speed Single Cylinder Research Engine

The favorable economics and flexibility of a single cylinder engine when used for research and development are obvious. At the planning stage of the new B2400 Bombardier Medium Speed Diesel engine, the value of a single cylinder version to proof test the design was considered. A search for a medium speed single cylinder engine which would be representative of the Bombardier/Alco 251 and the B2400 engine was unsuccessful. This fact and the alternative fuels studies which were being done on multi-cylinders justified the decision to embark with the funding assistance of the Transport Development Center (TDC) on the Bombardier Single Cylinder Research engine (BSCRE) Programme, This paper deals with the philosophy, design, application and international recognition a state-of-the-art medium speed engine research tool.