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The Art of the Helicopter John Watkinson - Karatunov.net

The Art of the Helicopter John Watkinson - Karatunov.net

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Engines and transmissions 219<br />

Fig. 6.13 <strong>The</strong> slipper big end <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Continental aeroDiesel allows both connecting rods to share <strong>the</strong> same<br />

crank pin.<br />

6.16 Cooling systems<br />

Most aviation piston engines are air cooled because in a fixed-wing aircraft a supply<br />

<strong>of</strong> cooling air is easy to come by. This argument is not so powerful in a helicopter in<br />

which <strong>the</strong> relative merits <strong>of</strong> air and water cooling need to be carefully examined.<br />

Air-cooled engines reach higher peak temperatures and need looser tolerances to<br />

prevent seizing. Actually <strong>the</strong> air-cooled engine obtains a significant amount <strong>of</strong> cooling<br />

from <strong>the</strong> oil. <strong>The</strong> oil-cooling system will be heavier in consequence. <strong>The</strong> cylinders need<br />

to be fur<strong>the</strong>r apart to allow space for <strong>the</strong> cooling fins needed to increase <strong>the</strong> surface<br />

area <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> cylinder and head. This leng<strong>the</strong>ns <strong>the</strong> engine and makes it heavier.<br />

<strong>The</strong> in-line configuration is not good for air cooling because <strong>the</strong> cylinders at <strong>the</strong> back<br />

run hotter and <strong>the</strong> crankcase is very long. <strong>The</strong> radial engine is <strong>the</strong> ultimate air-cooled<br />

configuration because all <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> cylinders receive equal cooling and <strong>the</strong> crankcase is<br />

short and compact. However, <strong>the</strong> frontal area and drag are significant. In high performance<br />

piston-engine aircraft, such as <strong>the</strong> Spitfire, <strong>the</strong> frontal area <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> engine had<br />

to be reduced as much as possible. This was done using in-line or vee construction<br />

that dictated water cooling. In <strong>the</strong> Spitfire <strong>the</strong> drag <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> radiator and <strong>the</strong> vee engine<br />

toge<strong>the</strong>r is less than if air cooling was used.<br />

Water has a much higher specific heat than air and so a smaller mass <strong>of</strong> water can<br />

carry away <strong>the</strong> heat. This means that <strong>the</strong> cylinders can be closer toge<strong>the</strong>r because no<br />

fins are required. This makes <strong>the</strong> crankcase shorter and <strong>the</strong> crankshaft can be lighter.<br />

When designed from <strong>the</strong> outset to be water cooled, an engine with radiator need be no<br />

heavier than an air-cooled engine and it will be quieter.<br />

In <strong>the</strong> helicopter <strong>the</strong>re will be no slipstream in <strong>the</strong> hover and a cooling fan will<br />

be needed whatever <strong>the</strong> cooling technique. <strong>The</strong> power loss <strong>of</strong> an engine-driven fan is<br />

considerable, as is <strong>the</strong> noise it creates and any viable alternative deserves study.<br />

6.17 <strong>The</strong> fuel system<br />

<strong>The</strong> fuel system <strong>of</strong> a light helicopter is reasonably simple and <strong>the</strong> installation used in<br />

an Enstrom F28 is shown in Figure 6.14. <strong>The</strong> object <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> fuel system is to ensure<br />

a reliable delivery <strong>of</strong> uncontaminated fuel at consistent pressure to <strong>the</strong> carburettor or<br />

fuel injection system.<br />

<strong>The</strong> fuel system begins with <strong>the</strong> tanks. <strong>The</strong>se are invariably installed as a pair, one<br />

each side <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> mast. <strong>The</strong> tanks are as close as possible to <strong>the</strong> CM so that fore-and-aft<br />

trim is unaffected as fuel burns <strong>of</strong>f. <strong>The</strong> two tanks are cross-connected with fuel and

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