Mailing List flyrotary@lancaironline.net Message #19863
From: Russell Duffy <13brv3@bellsouth.net>
Subject: RE: [FlyRotary] rule of thumb and RV-3 sizes- was Cooling Inlet Areas/Bernie's RV9
Date: Wed, 6 Apr 2005 20:52:36 -0500
To: 'Rotary motors in aircraft' <flyrotary@lancaironline.net>
Message
Note:  the exhaust area requirement is greater than the inlet combination of oil and coolant due to the now considerable hotter air temperature.  Rule of thumb:  Coolant air inlet opening for 200 HP coolant cooled engine ~60 sq. in., oil inlet opening ~30 sq. in. equals a total opening of 90 sq. in.  A good place to start with exhaust opening is 1.4 times the inlets or 126 sq. in.  Close the exit area down with cowl flaps to as little as 80% of the inlet combination at cruise conditions!
 
Thanks for the rules of thumb Doug.  I think something like this can be more help to a new builder than all the math in the world, but we will have to make sure the rule of thumb matches reality pretty well.  
 
I was just making a note in my log about the current inlet and outlet sizes, and decided to compare them to the ones you posted.  Here's the log note, just as a point of reference.
 

As an added note, the cowl exit area now measures 6.5” tall, and an average of about 19” wide.  This gives 123.5 sq inches of exit area, where the stock cowl exit was about 76 sq inches.   The cowl cheek inlets are about 24 sq in each, for 48 sq in total for coolant (throttle body takes air from this was well).  The current oil scoop is 30 sq in, and I suspect (hope) it’s going to be too big. 

 
Cheers,
Rusty (being flooded from the new house built on a $%@& mound next to us grrrrr)
  
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