Variable Altitude
ETC’s patented Balancing Altitude Simulation Equipment, or BASE™, is a modular air handling system used to simulate different altitude and ambient temperature conditions for the testing of engines and vehicles in the laboratory environment.
A typical engine testing application is shown in the figure on this page. To achieve higher pressures than the local barometric pressure, the system compresses the intake air to the engine or vehicle. To achieve pressures lower than the local barometric pressure, the system creates a slight vacuum to the engine/vehicle intake system. The system equalizes the pressure at the engine intake, engine exhaust, and in the crankcase, and therefore correctly simulates variable altitudes and the corresponding effects that barometric pressure has on engine breathing, gas exchange, combustion, exhaust pollutant formation, fuel consumption, and pumping losses.
BASE™ is used to repeatedly and accurately simulate barometric pressures at sea level to 14,000 feet elevation, for air temperatures ranging from -20 to 150°F, and is available for use in both the engine and vehicle testing labs. Extensive correlation testing has been done with several manufactures to show equal results between various labs and ETC using BASE.
