Subject: Latest flight
From: Rotary Engine
Date: 8/27/2011, 10:41 PM
To: AAA Put this in the To box


  Paul,

  I made it out to the airport early this morning and made a flight while it
  was still cool (below 100*).  This time I set the prop controller to 2300
  rpm instead of the usual 2150.  I held it at the numbers at part throttle
  to
  allow the prop to partially adjust, then released the brakes and applied
  the
  power gradually.  Engine rpm came up to 6980, more or less.  Much better
  than at 2150, but it takes some finessing to keep the rpm's below 7500.  I
  took some video, but not of the initial ground run.  It starts after I'm
 in
  the air and climbing, but it shows the various EM-2 screens.  I used a
  tripod and the data is much easier to read.

  Upon reviewing the video, I was able to calculate the bsfc based on a fuel
  burn of 16.5 gph and 220 hp.  Came out to .45 bsfc.  So, yes we can!

  The file is too large to attach and send via email, but I'll try to load
 it
  on YouTube later today and send the URL.

  I also took a second video where I went from a cruise setting of 1700 rpm
  (prop) to 1900 rpm.  Speeds climbed to 208 mph.  This was at 6500 msl,
  straight and level.  Some day I'll go to 2100 or higher and see what she's
  made of.

  Mark S.
  P-port 3 rotor Lancair ES.


  Good work Mark but I kind of doubt the .45 BSFC. That would be a world
  record
  for a rotary :) NOBODY has reported less than .47 so far at full lean.

  How did you determine 220 HP?

  Paul Lamar

  Paul,

 I read the hp from one of the EM-2 screens, so it is calculated.  But I
 don't know the formula Tracy used to determine it.  The fuel flow is from
 the main EM-2 screen, and yes, it could still need some "calibration"
 before
 it can be called accurate enough to use for the Guinnes World Record Book.

 Mark

 Ah so. Tracy uses an assumed average BSFC of .55 as I recall from reading
 the
 EM -2 docs. page 18.

 0 - BSFC

 "Break Specific Fuel Consumption This variable defines the average
 efficiency of the engine and is used to calculate things like HP
 output and percentage of power. All internal combustion gasoline engines
 have an average BSFC of around .55. It is a bit lower
 when running lean mixtures and a bit higher when running at best power
 mixtures which are much richer. The EM2 uses this entry
 as the average BSFC and either adds or subtracts a bit when it calculates
 horsepower depending on fuel mixture being measured by
 the O2 sensor (if installed). It uses the default value as-is if no sensor
 is installed."


 BSFC is given in pounds of fuel burned per HP generated in one hour.

 You first convert GPH into pounds per hour by multiplying by 6.
 Six pounds per gallon. So 16 GPH is 96 pounds of fuel per hour.
 Some say the number is 6.2 pounds per gallon.
 We will use six.

 16.5 GPH is 99 pounds of fuel per hour.

 Then you divide  99 pounds of fuel by .55 and you get 180 HP.

 Now Tracy adjust the BSFC number by reading the O2 sensor. Lets say the O2
 sensor
 is saying the engine is full lean. Around seventeen to one. In that case
 the BSFC
 should be around .47. So 99 pounds per hour of fuel gives a gives 210 HP.

 Lets say Tracy got highly optimistic and used .45 BSFC then it would come
 out to 220 HP.

 Here is a chart on the 3 spark plug per rotor Le Mans engine, Note the BSFC
 is  only .469.

 Paul Lamar

Paul,

Well, its beginning to make more sense.  Did you see the second video?

Mark S.

Yes. Here are some screen shots. In the display with the two lines in the
middle that are unmarked..what do they represent? That is screenshot-9.

Was this straight and level all the time?
It would be nice to set the camera angle so you can see the air data display
for altitude.

Paul Lamar
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