Mailing List flyrotary@lancaironline.net Message #65022
From: Pam & Dave Williams padajute@idcnet.com <flyrotary@lancaironline.net>
Subject: RE: [FlyRotary] Inlet duct sizing
Date: Fri, 16 Aug 2019 22:55:49 -0500
To: 'Rotary motors in aircraft' <flyrotary@lancaironline.net>

Hello Matt,

 

If your radiator is mounted horizontal, the air moving across the radiator (on the exit side) can be acting like an air door. You might try a wedge diffuser on the bottom with the opening to the rear.

 

Thanks,

Dave Williams

 

From: Rotary motors in aircraft [mailto:flyrotary@lancaironline.net]
Sent: Wednesday, August 14, 2019 10:42 PM
To: Rotary motors in aircraft <flyrotary@lancaironline.net>
Subject: [FlyRotary] Inlet duct sizing

 

I'm having a hard time in this Florida heat, trying to do my first flight. With a highspeed taxi run, (up to 55kts or so), will net my oil and coolant above my warning limits. 240 oil pan, 230 coolant out.

 

The coolant inlet (44sq") is huge with the idea that down the road I'd go turbo. The rad is from a dodge truck 19 x 24 x 1 = 454sq", with a wedge shape diffuser. Right now it just exits the back of the cowl, no cowl flaps or sub cowl installed yet.

 

The oil inlet is a lot smaller (~12.5sq"), going to a 2.5" scat hose, then to a trumpet shape which leads into a wedge. The oil rad is 9 x 11 x 2 = 198sq" from cx racing. For the outlet, I have a big box to collect the hot/expanded air, then neck it back down to 2.5" exit. Tomorrow I'll try another taxi test, with the outlet box completely removed and dumping into the cowl.

 

To find out if my prop is doing anything with airflow into the inlets, used a tube of water and found around 2200 static rpm, it raised the water about 4inches in the oil duct. I think that equals around ~55kts. I thought the prop would of cooled down the rads a lot more, but I guess I have bad duct designs. Maybe move them closer to the blade? Looking at the picture, the oil is on the left with all the green tape. I tried to make the opening bigger with foam, didn't see a real difference. Being on the bottom of the cowl and to the left, it doesn't get the rotating air from the blades as much.

I know high speed taxi tests in this Florida heat, is probably the worst case scenario. Depending how the morning goes, we might just fly the plane and get some speed into her nose. See at what speed the temperatures stabilize and start to cool down.

 

- Matt Boiteau

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