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Author Topic: Fuel draw calculation!  (Read 1167 times)

Offline Larry Renger

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Fuel draw calculation!
« on: June 19, 2009, 08:44:13 AM »
I got some numbers here.  I thought I'd calculate the velocity through the venturi and then the available pressure drop at the fuel orifice.

20,000 rev/minute
.061 cubic inches
.01 square inch passage area  (Ap)
.038 sqare inch at venturi entry (Ae)

Volume = .061 x 20,000 = 1220 cubic inches/minute  (assuming total efficiency as a pump...probably noticeably less in reality)
Velocity (at passage) Vp = 1220 / .010 = 122000 inches/minute x 1/12 ft/in x 1/60 minute/second = 169 ft/second

Similarly, Veloctity (at entry) = Ve = 44.2 ft/second

Benoulli tells us that pressure drop = 1/2 x .00238 x Ve^2 x ( [Ae/Ap]^2 -1)

This calculates out to .21 psi.  That isn't much to draw in the fuel!  No wonder muffler pressure and crank pressure make such a difference.

There is more to it than that, of course.  The obstruction creates a pressure drop, which is why a spraybar with the hole at the bottom still works.  I need to do a bit more research to figure that one out.
Think S.M.A.L.L. y'all and, it's all good, CL, FF and RC!

DesignMan
 BTW, Dracula Sucks!  A closed mouth gathers no feet!

Offline don Burke

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Re: Fuel draw calculation!
« Reply #1 on: June 19, 2009, 09:05:41 AM »
I made a low pressure test setup once using a u-tube manometer made from fuel line, 1/4" tygon tubing, and a scale on a vertical stand.  Used it to measure exhaust pressure on a 40 size engine.  I was surprised at the very low readings even in inches of water.
don Burke AMA 843
Menifee, CA

Offline Larry Renger

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Re: Fuel draw calculation!
« Reply #2 on: June 20, 2009, 08:07:45 AM »
On 45' lines at 3.8 second laps, I calculate that ram air pressure is about .05 psi.  That is a 25% improvement over the suction I calculated above.  Point those tank vents into the wind, dudes.   y1
Think S.M.A.L.L. y'all and, it's all good, CL, FF and RC!

DesignMan
 BTW, Dracula Sucks!  A closed mouth gathers no feet!

Offline Jim Thomerson

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Re: Fuel draw calculation!
« Reply #3 on: June 21, 2009, 06:51:09 AM »
Engine reviews sometimes gave a suction figure; how much the tank could be lowered and the engine still kept running.  As I recall, figures around 12 inches were thought good.  My crude calculation from Larry's figures suggest that .21 psi = @9 inches of water. 

I disagree with Larry on one point, that of using ram air on tank vents.  Airspeed changes and thus ram air pressure changes in maneuvers.  I use a one way valve on my open air uniflow tubes to help keep the pressure in the tank constant. 

Offline Larry Renger

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Re: Fuel draw calculation!
« Reply #4 on: June 22, 2009, 04:51:24 PM »
One fix for the varying pressure is to solder up the vent, and drill a very small hole.  The pressure can then change only very slowly, slower than a half lap time, so the internal pressure is more constant.  This could be a restrictor in a piece of fuel hose slipped over the vent, so that fueling is not slowed down.
Think S.M.A.L.L. y'all and, it's all good, CL, FF and RC!

DesignMan
 BTW, Dracula Sucks!  A closed mouth gathers no feet!


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