Europa-List Digest Archive

Fri 12/26/08


Total Messages Posted: 9



Today's Message Index:
----------------------
 
     1. 11:55 AM - Mixture control (Remi Guerner)
     2. 12:54 PM - power settings (Remi Guerner)
     3. 04:12 PM - Re: power settings (rampil)
     4. 04:16 PM - Coolant leak (Paul McAllister)
     5. 04:46 PM - Re: Coolant leak (Karl Heindl)
     6. 05:40 PM - Re: Coolant leak (Paul McAllister)
     7. 06:22 PM - Re: Coolant leak (rampil)
     8. 09:10 PM - Re: power settings (ALAN YERLY)
     9. 10:59 PM - Re: Coolant leak (josok)
 
 
 


Message 1


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    Time: 11:55:20 AM PST US
    From: "Remi Guerner" <air.guerner@orange.fr>
    Subject: Mixture control
    Ron, You will be adding a complicated system to an already complicated engine. I am afraid this will further reduce the reliability of your engine. Dealing with this sort of experiment on the ground (I mean on a car or a motorbike) is something. Doing it on an airplane is another story, especially if you want to use your bird as a reasonably reliable cross country machine. Just my personal opinion. Regards Remi >>>>>>>>>>>N4211W not flying yet, but have and will install a mixture control on 914. First off installed will be a Split Second mixture display that is driven by a Bosch O2 sensor (will weld a bung on the muffler inlet just downstream of turbo). Slight different install on 914 because of Turbo compared to 912/s, but will use a needle valve to leak pressure from normal airbox pressure side of enrichment solenoid to manifold cross tube. The more I leak the leaner the mixture will be. This will require a run of hose to cockpit then to manifold cross tube, I will use high temperature Viton tubing. I will slight richen mixture on main jet and perhaps even jet needle, I always like to run slight rich when you are making a lot of BTUs such as 100% power or in 914s case War emergency of 115%. It can also cool things a little on a hot engine (including when stuck on ground). Then will size a restriction on the controlled "leak" to manifold cross tube so it will allow me to only lean to ~14.7 at 18K. Then will have an emergency "rich" button that will allow me to activate enrichment solenoid that could further richen mixture on less than War emergency power if I wish. In addition the emergency "rich" button will completely bypass all my additional plumbing. For either a 912/S or 914 install, if you at cruise power if you pull throttle without closing off your controlled leak, your engine is probably going to quit. On the other hand, if you set mixture at lets say 60% power and adjust mixture, if you increase power you will go richer than probably desired. Another problem is if you lean at altitude, when you come down things will lean up further. Having a Split Second display is a nice tool for this control, a EGT (which I have one on each side of motor) is only semi useful. HAC has or had a altitude adjusting bellows, I would rather have full manual control. I am a motorhead and feel very comfortable fiddling with carburation. If you can't tune a lawnmower engine to perfection by ear, owned a hot 2 stroke cycle that you managed to run on the edge for long periods without blowing up, probably not worth considering the controlled 'leak' method of adjusting Type 64 constant depression carbs. Ron P.>>>>>>>>>>>>


    Message 2


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    Time: 12:54:13 PM PST US
    From: "Remi Guerner" <air.guerner@orange.fr>
    Subject: power settings
    Ira, I disagree with your assertion that altitude is not needed in your table. A given setting, i.e. 5000 rpm and 22" will give you more power at 8000 ft than at 1000 ft. because the temperature being colder at 8000 ft, the density of the air at a given manifold pressure is higher. As an exemple the following power settings are extracted from the Cirrus SR20 Flight Manual: 2000 ft, 2500 rpm, 23.8" 4000 ft, 2500 rpm, 22.3" 6000 ft, 2500 rpm, 21.8" 8000 ft, 2500 rpm, 21.2" All these settings produce the same 65% power on the Continental engine. So your table as it is today is valid at low altitude only. To be exhaustive, it would be necessary to compute one table for each density altitude. If you are prepared to do that work, I am interrested in getting the results. Best regards Remi >>>>>>>>>>>>The table is engine performance with a constant speed (AirMaster) prop. All certificated manufacturers provide a table like mine which shows the relationship between throttle, selected RPM, and power output. Rotax does not. The graph is useful to select which combination works best under specific circumstance, particularly when fuel flow and TAS are added to the table. My data collection is unfinished for the bigger version of the table. In this version of just engine, not airframe performance, density altitude is unneeded. No matter what density altitude, throttle sets manifold pressure, and obviously without a turbocharger/supercharger, the maximum MP declines with altitude. The desired rpm is set on your prop control. Green is the usual operating range, the other colors are not important here. Example: 75% power is obtained at 27.5" and 4800 rpm or 26" and 5000 or 24" and 5500 rpm. The "standard" cruise setting on Continental or Lycomings of 25 squared (or 2500 rpm @ prop at 25" MP) doesn't work out for Rotax because 2500 rpm would be over 6000 engine rpm, but by extrapolation would be over 80% power. Or, if you set your prop to 5000 rpm for cruise, then you get 75% at 26" (only possible up 4000' DA), and 65% at 23" MAP. While there are small inaccuracies due my simple model of the Otto cycle, so far as I know, this table I created is the only published attempt to provide guidance for 912s drivers with a constant speed prop<<<<<<<<<<<<


    Message 3


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    Time: 04:12:34 PM PST US
    Subject: Re: power settings
    From: "rampil" <ira.rampil@gmail.com>
    Hi Remi, Very Interesting! Your suggestion that a normally aspirated engine will develop more power at 8000' than at 1000' is quite curious. The fraction of oxygen is stable in the troposphere at 20.9% The standard lapse rate of 2C per 1000' is included in the rule of thumb that the pressure drop is an inch of Hg per 1000' Therefore the roughly 7" drop in pressure include the temperature change of roughly 14C. Look at this page from Wikipedia which has the formulae for pressure at altitude (with or without temperature lapse): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atmospheric_pressure NB a 7" drop in MP is roughly a 25% drop in power between 1 and 8 k'. The change in temperature is (following the Gay-Lussac's law) P1/T1 = P2/T2 where temperature is in Kelvin. So P1/P2 = T1/T2 or P1/P2 = (273 + 15)/(273 + 1) = 288/274 which is only a 5% change in density or partial pressure, so even if temperature was not accounted for in the pressure drop, the temperature effect is completely swamped by the pressure change. Remi, you might try the calculator for engine power at http://wahiduddin.net/calc/calc_hp_dp.htm or look here: http://www.2-stroke-porting.com/altiden.htm or here: http://www.nappf.com/nappf_density_altitude.htm or better yet read this delightful old book on Aircraft Engines (I reference it here for you because it is free on the web): http://books.google.com/books?id=qiBFAAAAMAAJ and a good book on aerodynamics and gas laws. I like Aerodynamics for Naval Aviators. See in particular the standard Atmosphere table on page 5 and pages 100-104, and page 135-149 on Recip engines. Cheers, -------- Ira N224XS Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=221271#221271


    Message 4


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    Time: 04:16:40 PM PST US
    From: "Paul McAllister" <paul.the.aviator@gmail.com>
    Subject: Coolant leak
    Hi All, It has been miserably cold here for the past month and I haven't flown my aircraft. I ventured out to my hanger today (unheated) to be greeted by the sight of coolant on the floor. It is dripping from the radiator area. I haven't investigated further, I'll have to move my airplane to the heated workshop area of my hanger first, but I had a few questions for the folks on the forum. I have a 50:50 mix of water/glycol in my aircraft. The coldest it has been in the last 30 days is zero degrees Fahrenheit, -18 centigrade. Has anyone had experience of 50:50 mix of water/glycol would freeze at this temperature ?. My quick research suggests it freezes at -36F For people living nearer to the Arctic circle than me, has anyone had a similar experience ? Thanks, Paul


    Message 5


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    Time: 04:46:35 PM PST US
    From: Karl Heindl <kheindl@msn.com>
    Subject: Coolant leak
    Paul=2C I think you will find a faulty connection. We get temps down to -25C=2C wit h my Europa in the garage. I also use 50/50 coolant. Karl > Date: Fri=2C 26 Dec 2008 18:15:33 -0600> From: paul.the.aviator@gmail.com > To: europa-list@matronics.com> Subject: Europa-List: Coolant leak> > --> Europa-List message posted by: "Paul McAllister" <paul.the.aviator@gmail.co m>> > Hi All=2C> > It has been miserably cold here for the past month and I haven't flown> my aircraft. I ventured out to my hanger today (unheated) t o be> greeted by the sight of coolant on the floor. It is dripping from the > radiator area.> > I haven't investigated further=2C I'll have to move my airplane to the> heated workshop area of my hanger first=2C but I had a few questions for> the folks on the forum.> > I have a 50:50 mix of water/glyc ol in my aircraft. The coldest it has> been in the last 30 days is zero deg rees Fahrenheit=2C -18 centigrade.> Has anyone had experience of 50:50 mix of water/glycol would freeze> at this temperature ?. My quick research sugg ests it freezes at -36F> > For people living nearer to the Arctic circle th =============> > >


    Message 6


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    Time: 05:40:39 PM PST US
    From: "Paul McAllister" <paul.the.aviator@gmail.com>
    Subject: Re: Coolant leak
    Hi Karl, Thanks for sharing your experience. Maybe I will get to move the airplane tomorrow to take a look. Have you had leakage do to cold fittings ? Thanks, Paul > > Paul, > > I think you will find a faulty connection. We get temps down to -25C, with > my Europa in the garage. I also use 50/50 coolant. > > Karl


    Message 7


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    Time: 06:22:39 PM PST US
    Subject: Re: Coolant leak
    From: "rampil" <ira.rampil@gmail.com>
    Hi Paul, My money is on a leaking connector also, hopefully easier to repair than a split hose ;-) Best Regards for a new year, -------- Ira N224XS Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=221292#221292


    Message 8


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    Time: 09:10:23 PM PST US
    From: "ALAN YERLY" <budyerly@msn.com>
    Subject: Re: power settings
    Happy Holidays, Just to throw my hat in...As I have too much time on my hands today... Propeller charts, ram intake effects, cowl mods, prop diameters, etc. all affect our aircraft's performance data. I agree with all of you that the Rotax Engine Manual is lacking to non existent for use in accurate data measurement for cruise. God only knows what the propeller efficiency is. And since we design off the engine charts, which in no way reflect actual engine installation effects, we are best equipped, as experimenters, to follow the age old technique of recorded pilot data from a specific test aircraft. Namely, Yours. When I get a chance to flight test an aircraft for a week or so, I log as much data as the owner lets me. Unfortunately I don't get to do this very often as it is quite time consuming and I leave it to the customer to consider how much he wants me to fly when he has a perfectly safe airplane. Frankly, most of you want to go fly, and all this data seems dumb. If you are happy cruising at 5500-6500 ft, 5000 rpm, 26" MP, and 4.5 gph, going as fast as the ground speed says, don't read on. I have a "simple chart" done up in my flight test book to jog my memory so I don't do something dumb like just fly around during the customers 40 hour fly off. After all, test flying is supposed to be work. I've read your posts and you guys are somewhat correct, but talking a different language. What is needed, in my opinion, is a chart/table, derived from data that is painfully boring to fill out and takes about 5 test flights. This is the data that then translates to Horsepower vs Speed charts to be translated into best cruise and climb performance suited to your aircraft. I've partially tested RV's (4 and 6) and fully tested a Zenith (Subaru E85) extensively as well as two Europa's, one a with a warp drive fixed prop the other with an Airmaster using variations of these data charts, and you can tweak your plane to get the most performance out of it by proper testing. It will also make the Rotax engine power curves start to make sense. Here's the gist: Cruise data chart for Aircraft make model, engine type, prop type at a specified gross weight: Density Altitude, RPM, MP, IAS, TAS, Fuel Flow, additional data (see note) Sea Level 2500 5000 7500 10,000 Note: Log for your use items such as; Oil T/P, Cyl. Head, Coolant , EGT etc. so you can track any future trends. But wait, there's more. Why climb up to cruise and not record climb also. Climb Data for Aircraft make model, engine type, prop type, Gross Weight: Climb Speed Start Climb, End Climb Duration, Power Setting RPM, MP Start Temp, PA, DA Fuel Flow (See Note) 75 knots 100 1000 58sec 5700 38" 15C,100,110 7.5 85Knots 100 1000 65 5700 38.3 15C, 100,110 7.5 etc. 2500 2500 5000 200sec 5500 35 11C 2500, 2750 7.3 Note: Great time to log cyl head and coolant readings. I try to climb at 75, 85. 95, and 105 Knots just to see the difference in climb and rates of cooling. Why these numbers? They are easy to see and chart. But wait there's even more, so go back to chart one and do the cruise from different power settings. Get close to the Rotax/Jabiru numbers such as 55%, 65%, 75%, and max continuous power settings. The data for the 912/912S/Jabiru will vary due to intake variations, and be pretty consistent for the 914. Don't forget it is all done at a specific gross weight so in-flight refuel to get the data as accurate as possible or do it over 5 flights. Record the data as Dykins did in the Europa books (good reading by the way) and then through some analysis, you will have useable data for creating charts which can be condensed down to be used in your Pilot Handbook as an attached performance page. I copied the idea for the performance info from Dykins, Chris Heinz, EAA, and anyone else who made a performance data sheet/manual or checklist and of course my "Airplane Aerodynamics" textbook by Dommasch, Sherby and Connolly. The data I have acquired so far will be to put together in the future for proper HP/Speed charts for the Europa and for my Classic Europa. The data points give me the ability to construct charts for climb, cruise planning and emergency procedures, such as max range, divert and glide. Each of our planes is different, so our data will be slightly different, so don't expect one plane's data to exactly reflect another's, unless they were built on an assembly line. I am attaching two excel files, one of my old blank performance data checklists and the other, my personal Europa checklist (they are old versions from a memory stick found at home, but good enough to show the performance page I made in my checklist). It is this type data analysis that prevents pilots from over-boosting their 912/914/Airmaster combination and dumping gas out of the tailpipe because they blindly set a power setting and never plotted the A/S vs Power curves to get max range computations... Guys always want more gas. Slowing down a few knots can get you 100 miles farther per leg or even more if you slow down to around 90-95 KIAS. You can even plot accurate charts for headwind / tailwind effects. Another way is to just figure your miles per gallon to get your best cruising power settings for max range. I see many folks getting 20 mpg instead of 28 mpg. It's just data, and you have the power to analyze it to get your desired information. The attached checklists were made for my use and are not a replacement for factory manuals or formal flight test manuals. Their use is for late in the test flight phase when all the bugs have been worked out. Data accumulation requires extensive preflight ground run throughs a.k.a. chair flying, and thorough preflight planning so as not to get your head down, when you should be flying. Data doesn't kill you, it's the ground and other airplanes. My checklists are from my personal random thoughts and experiences (scary). Use the company pilot handbook as it is the best policy, then add the performance data you acquired to it just as you did for your weight and balance. So... If you are looking for something to do, go out and get some formalized data. After landing, analyze the data, plan how to get more data when flying to the next fly-in breakfast and then over time, adjust your normal climb/cruise operations based on the data to suit your flying needs. If you feel like sharing, put it on the web. If you don't know what to do with the data, send it to me and I will try break it down for you. Enjoy the holidays, PS, I still haven't shut down a perfectly good engine to get glide data...Too many dependents or I'm getting too old for the adventure. Go figure. Bud Custom Flight Creations ----- Original Message ----- From: Remi Guerner<mailto:air.guerner@orange.fr> To: Europa-List Digest Server<mailto:europa-list@matronics.com> Sent: Friday, December 26, 2008 3:52 PM Subject: Europa-List: power settings Ira, I disagree with your assertion that altitude is not needed in your table. A given setting, i.e. 5000 rpm and 22" will give you more power at 8000 ft than at 1000 ft. because the temperature being colder at 8000 ft, the density of the air at a given manifold pressure is higher. As an exemple the following power settings are extracted from the Cirrus SR20 Flight Manual: 2000 ft, 2500 rpm, 23.8" 4000 ft, 2500 rpm, 22.3" 6000 ft, 2500 rpm, 21.8" 8000 ft, 2500 rpm, 21.2" All these settings produce the same 65% power on the Continental engine. So your table as it is today is valid at low altitude only. To be exhaustive, it would be necessary to compute one table for each density altitude. If you are prepared to do that work, I am interrested in getting the results. Best regards Remi >>>>>>>>>>>>The table is engine performance with a constant speed (AirMaster) prop. All certificated manufacturers provide a table like mine which shows the relationship between throttle, selected RPM, and power output. Rotax does not. The graph is useful to select which combination works best under specific circumstance, particularly when fuel flow and TAS are added to the table. My data collection is unfinished for the bigger version of the table. In this version of just engine, not airframe performance, density altitude is unneeded. No matter what density altitude, throttle sets manifold pressure, and obviously without a turbocharger/supercharger, the maximum MP declines with altitude. The desired rpm is set on your prop control. Green is the usual operating range, the other colors are not important here. Example: 75% power is obtained at 27.5" and 4800 rpm or 26" and 5000 or 24" and 5500 rpm. The "standard" cruise setting on Continental or Lycomings of 25 squared (or 2500 rpm @ prop at 25" MP) doesn't work out for Rotax because 2500 rpm would be over 6000 engine rpm, but by extrapolation would be over 80% power. Or, if you set your prop to 5000 rpm for cruise, then you get 75% at 26" (only possible up 4000' DA), and 65% at 23" MAP. While there are small inaccuracies due my simple model of the Otto cycle, so far as I know, this table I created is the only published attempt to provide guidance for 912s drivers with a constant speed prop<<<<<<<<<<<< http://www.matronics.com/contribution<http://www.matronics.com/contributi on> http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Europa-List<http://www.matronics.com/N avigator?Europa-List>


    Message 9


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    Time: 10:59:49 PM PST US
    Subject: Re: Coolant leak
    From: "josok" <josok-e@ukolo.fi>
    Hi Paul, The 50-50 mix does not freeze. You have been careful of course and not added water to pre-mixed antifeeze. I had leaks when cold. It seems that the fittings shrink faster then the srew type hose clamps. I aquired spring type clamps to get rid of the problem, but got never time to instasll them. They are yours if you send me your address of forum. Regards, Jos Okhuijsen Visit - www.EuropaOwners.org




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