Mailing List flyrotary@lancaironline.net Message #61809
From: David Leonard <flyrotary@lancaironline.net>
Subject: Re: [FlyRotary] Re: Return to Flight - 2
Date: Fri, 15 May 2015 16:39:42 -0700
To: Rotary motors in aircraft <flyrotary@lancaironline.net>
Jeff,
I agree with Bill.  I first thought looking at that is that the air gets pinched off right near the front.  I assume you had an issue with clearance to the engine and that is why it got built that way?  If so, maybe drop down the leading edge of the radiator a couple inches to make for better clearance before you build up the next duct/diffuser.  You want the portion over the Radiator to be more of a true wedge shape, but more important than the pinch at the back you mention is opening up the front.

The other major things to consider are boundry layer, turbulence behind the prop, and AOA.  In my plane AOA makes a huge difference.  So much so that low power slow flight (below 80 kts or so) does not cool as well (noticablly so) as anyting above 90 kts.   The difference is not the lower RAM force of the air, because that is more than offset of the power reduction.  The difference is that the increased AOA  causes my inlet to spill much more air, and my design is relatively tolerant of AOA changes compared to a more tunnel-like inlet like yours.

The exit can be a pure wedge as well.  Easy to make with sheet aluminum rather than trying to get all curvy with fiberglass.  My inlet diffuser is a simple aluminum wedge and it works great. (picture attached)

Paul Lamar's book on cooling is probably a very good primer.  Although I have never read it Paul really does understand a lot about airflow dynamics.

Good luck, I so not envy all the fiberglass work you are about to embark upon.

Dave Leonard

On Fri, May 15, 2015 at 1:30 PM, Bill Bradburry <flyrotary@lancaironline.net> wrote:

Jeff,

 

I suspect that  you are directing all the air at high speed thru the first 3-4 inches of your radiator without using the rear foot or so of the radiator.  I suggest you smooth out that pinch off you have at the entrance of the radiator to allow pressure to build back there and then flow thru the radiator.

 

Also, what are you doing with the right nostril of the plane?  Are you using it for anything?  Can you bring a scat tube from that right nostril to enter your plenum just about where it is pinched off now?

 

Bill

 


From: Rotary motors in aircraft [mailto:flyrotary@lancaironline.net]
Sent: Friday, May 15, 2015 2:19 PM
To: Rotary motors in aircraft
Subject: [FlyRotary] Re: Return to Flight - 2

 

More attachments of intake plenum removed …  Jeff

 

From: Jeff Whaley
Sent: Friday, May 15, 2015 3:17 PM
To: 'Bobby J. Hughes'
Subject: RE: Return to Flight - 2

 

Actually I don’t have any really good pictures because I took it apart … but attached is a side-view after removal of the inlet diffuser on top and also a sketch of approximate scale and shape of what I tried to make, (I don’t have a damper plate or cowl flap yet).  The top shape isn’t quite right; needs to be pinched more at the rear, also am considering a turning vane to direct more air through the front half.  Trying to make air bend 90 degrees twice isn’t easy but I chose this orientation because of the desire to add a damper at the output for winter operations.  I could drop the rear of radiator and bring air in through the bottom, spilling out over the engine but would lose the ability to have a damper – I don’t like the idea of inlet dampers.  On top of it all, my climb speed is usually only 90 mph; I don’t have the ability to get extra pressure from increased airspeed.   P.S. the radiator is the Griffin 2-58185-X, same as several other installs on this list.

The top plenum was out in the SUV; hopefully more attachments in next post …

Jeff

 

From:

David Leonard <flyrotary@lancaironline.net>

Subject:

Re: [FlyRotary] Return to Flight - 2

Date:

Fri, 15 May 2015 09:48:38 -0700

To:

Rotary motors in aircraft <flyrotary@lancaironline.net>

Message Header

Undecoded Message

Sorry to hear that Jeff.  My apologies if you have already posted pictures of the your installation and the diffuser, but could you post some now?

 

Dave Leonard

 

On Fri, May 15, 2015 at 8:19 AM, Jeff Whaley <flyrotary@lancaironline.net> wrote:

From: Jeff Whaley
Sent: Friday, May 15, 2015 11:19 AM
To: 'Bobby J. Hughes'
Subject: Return to Flight - 2

 

Well, the second flight occurred last night with same results as before; one short low-level circuit due to insufficient cooling … looks like Al Wick made the correct prediction.

There are 3 things I can try with the current configuration: 1) Increase inlet area 2) Increase outlet area (adjustable cowl flap) 3) Re-profile the pinched diffuser.  I will do all 3 and see what happens.

If all of the above show remarkable improvement then repositioning the radiator is the only alternative.

Jeff

This message, and the documents attached hereto, is intended only for the addressee and may contain privileged or confidential information. Any unauthorized disclosure is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please notify us immediately so that we may correct our internal records. Please then delete the original message. Thank you.


Image
image001.gif
Image
image002.gif
Subscribe (FEED) Subscribe (DIGEST) Subscribe (INDEX) Unsubscribe Mail to Listmaster