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Don't know the answer to all your question, Bob.
But gasoline and ethanol weight about the same per gallon or around 6 lbs
(perhaps a bit more).
The combustible energy content of 1 lb of gasoline is around 20,000 BTU, the
energy of ethanol is around 12,800 BTU. So assuming the combust similarly
for the same fuel burn rate, you would get approx 12,800/20,000 = 64% of the
power compared to using gasoline. I'm not certain whether the amount of
oxygen required to combust 1 lb of ethanol is the same as gasoline, but I
would assume about the same.
So your power (and range) would be adversely affected - however, if 64% of
the power is sufficient to safely fly and you are not concerned about range
and if the ethanol is the right price - there might be a place for it.
I have no idea what unburnt ethanol being dumped into the oil sump would
have, but since they use nitromethane in racing, I would assume no drastic
effects.
There have been reports of adverse effects of auto gas with ethanol on
certain polymers used in aircraft seals and "O" rings, so I would use those
types that are approved for auto use.
Lynn can probably provide more insight to the use of such "alternative"
fuels.
Ed
Ed Anderson
Rv-6A N494BW Rotary Powered
Matthews, NC
eanderson@carolina.rr.com
http://www.andersonee.com
http://members.cox.net/rogersda/rotary/configs.htm#N494BW
http://www.dmack.net/mazda/index.html
-----Original Message-----
From: Rotary motors in aircraft [mailto:flyrotary@lancaironline.net] On
Behalf Of Bob Perkinson
Sent: Friday, October 31, 2008 8:42 PM
To: Rotary motors in aircraft
Subject: [FlyRotary] Alcoholic Rotary
This subject probably has been hashed around on this list before, but I will
ask it again. What might be the estimated power output of the 13B be burning
only Ethanol, and what other alteration would need to be preformed other
than what are already preformed?
I know the concerns about the effects of Ethanol on hoses and other flexible
ancillaries.
The reason that I am even thinking of running the engine on ethanol is there
might be some federal money out there for R&D passed out through one of the
local Universities.
Just thinking about my piece of the pie. :>)
Bob Perkinson
RV-9 N68RP Reserved
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