Mailing List flyrotary@lancaironline.net Message #3096
From: Ed Anderson <eanderson@carolina.rr.com>
Subject: Re: [FlyRotary] Intake questions
Date: Wed, 17 Sep 2003 22:54:44 -0400
To: Rotary motors in aircraft <flyrotary@lancaironline.net>
Message
 
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Wednesday, September 17, 2003 12:01 PM
Subject: [FlyRotary] Intake questions

Greetings,
 
I'm probably about to prove that I haven't paid any attention to any of the intake construction threads, but here goes...  I know there's special length that will tune the intake to make more power.  Ed knows what this is, but if he tells us, he has to kill us (a slow painful death, involving 60 slides)  :-) 
 
My general question is this- does it matter if this runner length is before, or after the throttle body?  I'm using the TWM throttle body, which is completely separated into two sides.  If I kept the air inlet to the TB as separate tubes for a particular length, would that count towards the tuned system? 
 
The reason I'm thinking about this of course is pre-planning for the almost inevitable removal of my turbo.  If I end up using a stock cowl, I'll have space in the left cheek for intake stuff.  I've seen a very short intake manifold that sticks straight out to the side about 4 inches or so, then the TB would stick straight out another 4 inches or so.  While this is simple, and compact, it would certainly not be good for our power band, so I started wondering if I could "tune" it with individual pipes on the inlet side of the TB.  
 
Thanks,
Rusty (Scotty, I need more power!) 
 
The short answer is that for the DIE effect, you need the runners between the TB and intake port
 
For you Rusty, you have to sit throught the presentation TWICE!  The answer is (I love this ) is- it depends.  There are numerous approaches to "induction tuning" (as you now) , there are even more theories from the yard tree to the NASCAR chief mechanic's favorite one.  Depending on whether you adopt "Organ Pipe", "Helmhotz", "Finite-Amplitude Wave theory" Or WHAT, you are likely to get different answers.
 
However, there are a couple of  things that appear to fall out of most theories and practice.
 
1.  Long small tubes make for good low-to mid range torque and power, but tend to fall off at higher RPM. Now define "small", Tracy Crook's engine probably has some of (if not the smallest) diameter tubes and has done 214 MPH.
 
2.  Short large tubes tend to make good High RPM range torque and power (mainly power) but tend to suck at low - mid  rpms
 
3.  Airflow velocity in the tubes should be at some minimum velocity for good combustion chamber stuffing with air/fuel mixture.  The min velocities I have seen in literature range from 180 ft/sec to mach 0.6 (now that helps narrow it down doesn't it?)
 
 
The  basic bottom line seems to be that you can't have everything and trying to get it will most likely end with a poor set up.  I orginially had a very similar set up, at 4 injector TMW throttle body sitting on a Racing Beat webber system manifold. Dual 2" dia throats ready to turn 10,000 rpm.  Well, as I learned, the set up that's golden for 10,000 rpm sucks at 5500 rpm.  My second manifold was one I build copied after Tracy Crooks (with some changes of course).  Even my low power 1986 NA 13B showed a climb improvment of 300 fpm and top speed increased 10 MPH with the new manifold.  My nominal static with a high pitch (68x72) prop was 5200 rpm which I consider good - but on cool days I could turn it as high as 5800 static.   I took off one 28F morning turning 5800 rpm from take off roll to 3000 msl with a fuel flow rate of 20 GPH indicating I was producing over 200HP.  Never thought to look at the VSI with my eyeball glued to the rpm and fuel flow meter, but I got to 3000 ft before I was much past the end of the runway.
 
On the other hand, my top speed didn't seem to change!  This type of thing
is what got me started researching this DIE effect for an answer.
 
 
The secret seems to be to clearly define what you want (compromise!) out of the engine, then go about refining your intake system to fit those needs.
 
BUT, if you intend to employ this Dynamic Intake Effect (DIE) that you will hear (at least twice {:>), the the answer is you must put your runner length  BETWEEN the trottle body and intake port.  Let me make one point clear about DIE, it is an adjunct to a basically good intake system.  If your basic induction system is D.. S...  then DIE will not pull the situation out of the mud.
 
If you have a basically good intake that provides good airflow (no doesn't have to be the perfect system) then DIE can indeed add enough increased torque and power to make it worthwhile.  Do you need it to fly a rotary sucessfully - certainly not.  But, if you want to twitk the most HP from you installation with the minimum weight, I believe you will find DIE potential highly interesting.
 
Also it turns out there is no one magic runner length for the DIE effect and the length for this effect depends not only on the rpm point you select for  this effect to occur but also on your particular engine specifications - there that sounds mysterious enough, I think.
 
So show up, Rusty.  Fly, drive, swim or walk but be there.
 
Best Regards
 
Ed Anderson
 
 
 
 
 
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