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Testing is done in a test cell or house (Fig. 1 9-1), fully

equipped to measure all of the desired operating parameters.
Some of the larger installations cost several million dollars.
The building is usually of concrete construction and contains
both the control and engine rooms, although in some installations
only the control or instrumentation room is enclosed.
Most cells have silencers installed in the inlet stack for noise
suppression and a water spray rig in the exhaust section for
cooling. Many modem test cells incorporate computers to
automatically record all instrument readings and correct
them (see pages 427 to 429) to standard day conditions.
Testing of large modem engines has been a real problem
in that the amount of air required by the engine or its components
was not readily available with existing equipment.
New facilities have had to be built to simulate conditions

When the engine is installed in the cell, a bellmouth inlet

and screen (Fig. 1 9-3) are attached. The bellmouth inlet is a
funnel-shaped tube with rounded shoulders that offers so little
air resistance that the duct loss can be considered zero.
The screen itself does offer some resistance and must be
taken into account when extremely accurate data must be
collected. Twenty-four-volt electric power is provided to
operate the ignition system and any solenoid valves on the
engine. One hundred fifteen volts, four hundred hertz current
may also be provided for some •0nition systems and valves.
Test schedules vary with different model engines and
manufacturers but usually include instrument observations
during starting and acceleration, and at the several thrust settings
of idle, maximum cruise, maximum climb, and maximum
continuous takeoff. Acceleration time may also be
recorded.