Curley John, I wasn't thinking of turbines when I posted this message as I was only considering the reciprocating engines in our Ercoupes. I agree with you on the turbine though. The typical water injection I have seen on conventional four stroke reciprocating engines only injects enough water to stop destructive detonation. This water actually produces more power in the engine because it allows higher compression and/or boost to be used with more aggressive ignition timing. Running the engine in this higher state of tune produces more power than the small amount of energy the water could ever use to be turned into vapor. I guess all this discussion of water injection is rather pointless as the Continentals in our Ercoupes are very under stressed in normal tune and the benefit of water in the combustion chamber would be negligible. Great discussion though!
Shep [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > In a message dated 00-01-14 02:49:33 EST, you write: > > > The only advantage of water being used in an engine (water > > injection, > > not in the tank) is to reduce the chances of severe detonation under load > > when > > using high compression or forced induction. The steam produced by the > water > > actually robs the engine of some power due to the large amount of energy > > needed > > to vaporize water. > I'm not sure I completely agree with this, but I know it'll take me too long > to find the supporting documntation, so I'll let it go. However, in the > case > of a Turbine, injecting water does definitely increase power output, all > other things being equal (compression, fuel, etc. ) The reason is that you > want to extract as much heat as possible from the engine before it gasses > hit > the tail pipe. By vaporizing the water you cool the exhaust and the > expanding steam helps drive the turbine section. I'd think that the same > principle applies to internal combustion engines, too. Any heat that can be > converted into expanding gasses will help push the piston. Heat in the > tailpipe is wasted energy, at least once it gets past any turbocharging > components (but I said I wasn't going to argue this point, so I'll shut up > here.) > > > I still maintain that any water in your Ercoupe's fuel > > system will only cause trouble and a quick fix with alcohol additives > will > > only cause you problems in the future. > Agreed. All I started out to explain was the mechanism for both dry gas and > the alcohol test. > > > > > Dan > > or maybe I should change it to Mo for you guys : ) > Sorry, Bob Urban is Moe. You can be Shep. > > Curley John (I guess that actually leaves Curley and Curley Joe available > too. Nyuck, Nyuck, Nyuck) > > --------------------------------- > to unsubscribe send mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > _____________________________________________________________ > Check out the new and improved Topica site! > http://www.topica.com/t/13 --------------------------------- to unsubscribe send mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] _____________________________________________________________ Check out the new and improved Topica site! http://www.topica.com/t/13
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