Mailing List flyrotary@lancaironline.net Message #3243
From: Ed Anderson <eanderson@carolina.rr.com>
Subject: Re: [FlyRotary] Re: Power on a cold day was Re: [FlyRotary] Re: Some turbo thoughts from a pro ....
Date: Tue, 23 Sep 2003 07:45:31 -0400
To: Rotary motors in aircraft <flyrotary@lancaironline.net>
Message
 
----- Original Message -----
From: Al Gietzen
Sent: Tuesday, September 23, 2003 1:05 AM
Subject: [FlyRotary] Re: Power on a cold day was Re: [FlyRotary] Re: Some turbo thoughts from a pro ....

 

Rusty, the rotary engine (for what ever reason) just LOOOVVVVVEEEESSS those cooler days.  I have had fuel flow of over 20 gph on take off when OAT was 28F.  That calculates out to over 200HP, static RPM was 5800 rpm vice a nominal of 5200 on a "normal" day.  I've never said anything about it because 1.  Who would believe me 2.  Who would believe me? and 3. Who would believe me?   Anytime the OAT is below 65F or so my static RPM increases about 200 rpm for ever 10F further temp drop.

 

Ed;

 

The only problems with this is 1. I don’t believe it, 2. I don’t believe it; and 3, I find it hard to believe J.

The air density change is proportional to the change in absolute temp, so 10F is about  2%.  Maybe 3 hp?  Gee, we don’t really need to turbo because the adiabatic temp drop with altitude will overcome the loss of power due to altitude J. Could there be some other effect going on here? Fuel density is also changing.  How are you measuring fuel flow.

 

 One problem with hp inferred from fuel burn is that we know that the rotary’s don’t burn all that fuel to make power.  Fuel is burning right on out into the exhaust pipe, and the amount of unburned fuel varies with a lot of other factors. 

 

Al

 

See! I knew I wouldn't be believed {:>).  You are not alone.  When, I first mentioned it to Tracy, he suggested a Tach malfunction {:<(. 

 

 First, I abolutely agree, Al that the  increased in power that would move my static rpm from 5200 to 5800 rpm on a cold day, could of only had a small contribution from the colder denser air.  Once, I elimnated a possible tach malfuction at high rpm, that increased power puzzle is part of what got me started on this DIE analysis.  It is now clear to me how and why that additional power was there on cold days, but not on the warmer days.  In fact, in my presentation in October at Shady Bend, I use that the equations to explain exactly how and why that was happening to my engine.

 

I also agree that you can crank up the mixture and fuel flow and the rotary will simply spite out and burn in the exhaust the excess fuel.  However, when the fuel burn rate, the engine rpm and the aircraft performance all three indicate increased power...there just might be increased power.

 

But, given that the power increase was real (and despite the opinon of unbelievers {:>) I believe it was) then the next question is how can I get it all the time, not just on cold days.  That is what I am now working on.

 

Ed Anderson

 

 

Subscribe (FEED) Subscribe (DIGEST) Subscribe (INDEX) Unsubscribe Mail to Listmaster