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Limp home mode
Randy,
From
what I understand, there have been a few instances of rotaries losing their
coolant, for one reason or another, and continuing to fly to the nearest airport
and landing safely. Once shut down though, the engine is toast at that
point. This is due to the steel rotors and aluminum rotor housings.
They do not swell and seize like a standard piston engine. Someone else
with more direct knowledge of this may be able to add to
this.
The
docile failure modes of the rotary though, is a strong motivator to using the
rotary engine. I have never heard of a sudden catastrophic failure that
led to the engine stopping due to mechanical failure. I have heard of
several instances of Lycomings and Continentals failing, like when they drop a
valve, or lose a cylinder, or lose oil pressure and seize
up.
There
are some builders using series water pumps (EWP) on their engines. That
may also be of interest to you. You can check the archives for information on
those.
Steve
Yes I
see. Ok that deals with the ignition. What I am interested in is
the scenario of coolant loss, a computer that only fires, say, every third
revolution so that although the engine is producing only partial power, it is
also producing minimum heat. Still enough to stay airborne, and able to
be cooled with the oil alone. Is this
possible?
-Randy
From:
Rotary motors in aircraft
[mailto:flyrotary@lancaironline.net] On
Behalf Of Steve Brooks
Sent: Monday, September 13, 2004 4:22
PM
To: Rotary motors in aircraft
Subject: [FlyRotary] Re: Limp home
mode
Tracy Crook's
controller the EC-2 goes "limp Home" mode one better. It has 2 separate
computers, an "A" and a "B". If one fails, you can flip to the other
one. It also has an engine monitor (EM-2) that works with it to monitor
several engine parameters.
-----Original
Message-----
From:
Rotary motors in aircraft
[mailto:flyrotary@lancaironline.net]On
Behalf Of Smith,
Randy
Sent: Monday, September 13, 2004 3:37
PM
To: Rotary motors in aircraft
Subject: [FlyRotary] Limp home
mode
Gentlepeople,
I am rather new to the
list and normally I just lurk until I have something to
say. Well, in breaking with that mode I
have some thoughts that I would like some opinions on so if you’re game,
here goes…
1.
I am
building a Cozy MKIV. It uses an NACA scoop embedded in the belly to
provide cooling air. I am thinking of not building the NACA scoop as I
plan to use some sort of Meredith effect
scoop/plenum (ala the P-51) for cooling. Thoughts?
2.
I plan
to fly this plane on long flights over water (around the world is one of my
goals.) Is there an ignition/injection system
that provides some sort of limp home capability such as what
is in the Cadillac Northstar systems that allows for intermittent firing of
the rotors? This to provide partial power in
situations where I lose coolant overboard and hopefully, relying on oil
cooling, continue to safety. If not, what is the proper way to ensure
redundancy of the cooling system?
3.
In
reading several web sites regarding around the world travel, it appears that
apart from endless bureaucracy and outrageous landing/handling fees, the
largest problem is fuel availability. Most parts
of the world have no use for 100ll or appear to have never heard of it.
(just kidding, it has to be specially ordered in many
places and sometimes it is quite
suspect.) Is the rotary particular about the fuel used? I am
interested in the SCORE technology that John Deere came up with and would
really love a diesel rotary in this regard. Diesel/Jet
A/Kerosene is available almost everywhere.
That is enough for
now. My brain hurts.
-Randy
“Still
looking for a ride to Rough River”
Smith
Columbia, SC
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