What is BHP

It is "brake horsepower" (not "break"). It represents the mechanical horsepower required by a piece of equipment (fan, compressor, pump, etc.) at specified operating conditions. Usually a somewhat greater horsepower of motor will be fitted, giving a reserve of power capacity to drive the load.

For example, you might have a refrigeration compressor rated at 57 BHP for the specified conditions, and then select the next larger motor (60hp) to drive it.

thank you.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horsepower

Dear Mr.Suvarna Mendu,

Mr. Tornado has correctly pointed out - it is BRAKE HORSE POWER and not BREAK HORSE POWER.

Well. I am a Mechanical Engineer and I shall explain BHP from MECHANICAL ENGINEERING POINT OF view. For the Internal Combustion Engines there is IHP - called INDICATED HORSE POWER, WHICH IS DERIVED/MEASURED from the ENERGY INPUT. Since THERMO DYNAMIC EFFICIENCY plays a role here, the entire INPUT ENERGY will not be available as out put power for useful work.

The useful work available, AFTER ACCOUNTING FOR THERMO DYNAMIC EFFICIENCY, FRICTIONAL LOSS etc., at the shaft is called or known as BRAKE HORSE POWER.

I hope it is clear.

DHAYANANDHAN.S, CR4 MEMBER,INDIA

brake horsepower BHP is an expression used for any kind of power generation units such as diesel or petrol engines, steam or gas turbines, boilers , electric power generators ----etc.

in all cases of power generation ther is two kind of powers

Input power : is the power used to run generation unit ,it is mostly in form of fuel,winds power,water flow power , solar power --etc

power generation unit used input power and transfer it to some other kind of power

for example mechanical power as used in mechanical engineering sector.

the result generated power called output power which is a percentage of input power depending on plant efficiency.

also out put power is not completely useful as a final generated power because of some power losses in different forms like friction losses ,heat losses,---etc

after deduction for all kind of losses power, the result is the final useful power which called brake horse power