5 ms·

Can someone explain how they are getting near 50% thermal efficiency? All the articles mention it, but I can't find a reasonable explanation.

cromulent 10y ago
This is a much better article: http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/opinion/f1/ferraris-formula-1-jet-ignition http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/opinion/f1/ferraris-formul... My understanding is that they pre-ignite a tiny amount of fuel in a special chamber, which forces the main fuel-air charge into the cylinder through targeted nozzles, making a very effective and targeted fuel air mixture, which can be leaner as the mix is so good.
- exDM69 10y ago
  This new jet igniter you mention is a fairly new development (not all teams have it yet) and is no doubt beneficial but it's probably not a huge increase in the efficiency on top of the clever hybrid technology. But it does provide a fair bit of power, and I'm looking forward to seeing Honda race it tomorrow for the first time (Mercedes and Ferrari have it already, Honda bringing it to Canada this weekend, not sure about Renault). This might improve McLaren's lackluster performance and even up the racing a little.
  - cromulent 10y ago
    It is actually quite a huge increase in the ICE. Ferrari's been using it for a year. "Furthermore, this process allows ... peak indicated thermal efficiencies up to 45% - not to be confused with the reported > 48% thermal efficiency that Mercedes is achieving for its entire F1 power unit." http://www.f1technical.net/news/20316 http://www.f1technical.net/news/20316
    - exDM69 10y ago
      Thanks for the good link. TJI seems to give quite nice increase in efficiency, up from the already impressive 40% or so they had in 2014. I don't remember anyone struggling with fuel loads in a long time like they did early on with the new engines.
exDM69 10y ago
It's a turbocharged hybrid engine with two electric motor-generator units. One on the shaft between the turbine and the compressor and the other is on the crankshaft. Excess heat energy is captured from the turbo with the generator instead of blowing the excess out of the waste gate. The turbo is pre-spooled by turning it with the electric motor so the internal combustion engine runs at or near stoichiometric optimal fuel-air mix at all times. The other motor generator does regenerative braking and can drive the engine. The Mercedes engine is rumored to develop around 950 horsepower from the 1.6l V6 engine (of which about 160 are from the electric motors). I'm hopeful that similar technology will find its way to road cars. City buses in particular would benefit a lot due to frequent stops.
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cromulent 10y ago

This is a much better article: http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/opinion/f1/ferraris-formula-1-jet-ignition http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/opinion/f1/ferraris-formul... My understanding is that they pre-ignite a tiny amount of fuel in a special chamber, which forces the main fuel-air charge into the cylinder through targeted nozzles, making a very effective and targeted fuel air mixture, which can be leaner as the mix is so good.

exDM69 10y ago
This new jet igniter you mention is a fairly new development (not all teams have it yet) and is no doubt beneficial but it's probably not a huge increase in the efficiency on top of the clever hybrid technology. But it does provide a fair bit of power, and I'm looking forward to seeing Honda race it tomorrow for the first time (Mercedes and Ferrari have it already, Honda bringing it to Canada this weekend, not sure about Renault). This might improve McLaren's lackluster performance and even up the racing a little.
- cromulent 10y ago
  It is actually quite a huge increase in the ICE. Ferrari's been using it for a year. "Furthermore, this process allows ... peak indicated thermal efficiencies up to 45% - not to be confused with the reported > 48% thermal efficiency that Mercedes is achieving for its entire F1 power unit." http://www.f1technical.net/news/20316 http://www.f1technical.net/news/20316
  - exDM69 10y ago
    Thanks for the good link. TJI seems to give quite nice increase in efficiency, up from the already impressive 40% or so they had in 2014. I don't remember anyone struggling with fuel loads in a long time like they did early on with the new engines.

exDM69 10y ago

It's a turbocharged hybrid engine with two electric motor-generator units. One on the shaft between the turbine and the compressor and the other is on the crankshaft. Excess heat energy is captured from the turbo with the generator instead of blowing the excess out of the waste gate. The turbo is pre-spooled by turning it with the electric motor so the internal combustion engine runs at or near stoichiometric optimal fuel-air mix at all times. The other motor generator does regenerative braking and can drive the engine. The Mercedes engine is rumored to develop around 950 horsepower from the 1.6l V6 engine (of which about 160 are from the electric motors). I'm hopeful that similar technology will find its way to road cars. City buses in particular would benefit a lot due to frequent stops.

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