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brake horsepower

engineering
Also known as: shaft horsepower

Quick Summary

Brake horsepower (bhp) is a measure of an engine's power output. It specifically refers to the power calculated from the force exerted on a friction brake or absorption dynamometer applied to the engine's shaft. This measurement represents the actual power delivered by the engine, after accounting for internal friction and mechanical losses.123

In contrast, indicated horsepower is the power developed within the engine's cylinders before these losses are considered. Therefore, brake horsepower is always less than indicated horsepower and is a key indicator of an engine's usable capacity.32

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