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The Art of the Helicopter John Watkinson - Karatunov.net

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334 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Art</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Helicopter</strong><br />

In a gasoline engine <strong>the</strong>re is a throttle that forcibly limits <strong>the</strong> mass flow through <strong>the</strong><br />

engine and reduces <strong>the</strong> inlet manifold pressure. <strong>The</strong> reduced manifold pressure opposes<br />

<strong>the</strong> motion <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> piston on <strong>the</strong> induction stroke and causes pumping loss. Pumping<br />

loss can be reduced by supplying air with lower density and opening <strong>the</strong> throttle to<br />

compensate. Consequently flying at an appropriate altitude reduces <strong>the</strong> total power<br />

needed and makes both gasoline and turbine engines more efficient. In a gasoline<br />

engine <strong>the</strong>re is ano<strong>the</strong>r option available to increase efficiency, which is to use heated<br />

induction air. This is normally provided to prevent icing in humid conditions, but hot<br />

air is less dense than cold air and so throttles <strong>the</strong> engine back to cruise power with less<br />

pumping loss <strong>the</strong>reby increasing efficiency and range.<br />

Figure 8.8(a) shows <strong>the</strong> fuel flow curves for a CH-47D at two AUWs at sea level<br />

and +10 ◦ C. Figure 8.8(b) shows <strong>the</strong> corresponding curves for <strong>the</strong> same AUWs but at<br />

10 000 feet pressure altitude and <strong>the</strong> air temperature 20 ◦ C lower to allow for <strong>the</strong> lapse<br />

rate. It will be clear that <strong>the</strong> fuel flow is significantly reduced for <strong>the</strong> lower AUW by<br />

climbing to <strong>the</strong> higher altitude as <strong>the</strong> reduction in parasite power exceeds <strong>the</strong> increase in<br />

pr<strong>of</strong>ile and induced power. For <strong>the</strong> higher AUW, CL becomes too large and <strong>the</strong> increase<br />

in induced and pr<strong>of</strong>ile power outweighs <strong>the</strong> reduction <strong>of</strong> parasite power and fuel flow<br />

is higher.<br />

If altitude is taken to extremes, it would depend on <strong>the</strong> design <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> machine and<br />

<strong>the</strong> AUW whe<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong> engine ran out <strong>of</strong> power before <strong>the</strong> rotor stalls or vice versa. In<br />

practice a somewhat lower altitude can be found at which a significant improvement in<br />

range can be had. On a long ferry flight with auxiliary tanks, <strong>the</strong> weight <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> machine<br />

reduces significantly as fuel burns <strong>of</strong>f and <strong>the</strong> optimum altitude will increase. <strong>The</strong> best<br />

range will be obtained by adhering to a calculated altitude pr<strong>of</strong>ile throughout <strong>the</strong> flight.<br />

It should be noted that at very high altitudes, reduced air density results in reduced<br />

cyclic authority.<br />

Fig. 8.8 Fuel flows curves for a CH-47D for two different AUWs. (a) At sea level. (b) At 10 000 feet (courtesy<br />

Boeing).

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