RE: fuel filler valve recommendations    Gallery
View related threads: (in this forum | in all forums)

Logged in as Guest



Users viewing this topic: none
    Search This Thread  
 
Printable Version

All Forums >> RC Airplanes >> Tips & Techniques >> RE: fuel filler valve recommendations
Page: <<   < prev  1 [2]

Tower Hobbies Get Coupon Codes Brands  
Login
Message << Older Topic   Newer Topic >>
RE: fuel filler valve recommendations - 4/28/2010 5:17 PM   
Bundubasher



Posts: 687
Score: 112
Joined: 12/14/2008
Last Login: 5/4/2012
From: Cape L''''''''Agulhas, SOUTH AFRICA
Status: offline
Skeeter,
I've done the calculation - if the fuel tank is 3" high, standing level and is un pressurized, the hydrostatic head of a full tank of fuel will be 0.09 psi. That is insignificant - fuel can siphon out slowly, but that is as much as it gets. What makes a difference is if the fuel tank and carburettor is not aligned - tank too high or too low.

The pressure is always equal in all directions in a contained vessel - the fuel tank and pipe to the muffler is a "vessel". I'm not sure what you mean by "restriction" when the tank is full.

What would you then recommend to be the best ?: a large flat tank or a narrow high fuel tank?



_____________________________

My experience is that continental drift sometimes causes the Earth to jump up and knock a plane out of the sky......

Hide Signatures

(in reply to skeeter_ca)
       Post #: 26

RE: fuel filler valve recommendations - 4/29/2010 3:09 AM   
skeeter_ca



Posts: 933
Score: 121
Joined: 11/30/2005
Last Login: 3/6/2013
From: Yucaipa, CA, USA
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Bundubasher

Skeeter,
I've done the calculation - if the fuel tank is 3'' high, standing level and is un pressurized, the hydrostatic head of a full tank of fuel will be 0.09 psi. That is insignificant - fuel can siphon out slowly, but that is as much as it gets. What makes a difference is if the fuel tank and carburettor is not aligned - tank too high or too low.

The pressure is always equal in all directions in a contained vessel - the fuel tank and pipe to the muffler is a ''vessel''. I'm not sure what you mean by ''restriction'' when the tank is full.

What would you then recommend to be the best ?: a large flat tank or a narrow high fuel tank?



I'm no hydro engineer but i have learned a few things over the years, maybe some of them wrong! lol.

The restriction i talked about was the back pressure, however slight, in the submerged muffler line. It would actually take a minute amount of extra pressure from the muffler to overcome that extra .09 psi, you calculated, to clear and keep the line clear to add pressure to the tank. Come to think of it. It would take .09psi. As the level goes down it requires less pressure to keep the line clear. And more pressure would go into the tank.

The pressure would not be equal in all areas of the fuel tank. The fuel tank contains two forms of pressure. One - the pressure created by the muffler and two - the pressure created by the depth of the fuel. Example - suppose(and i'm just pulling these numbers out of my bum)the tank is pressurized by the muffler to 1psi. The top of the tank where there was only air, if you want to call it that, would be 1psi on all areas of the tank. If you go to the bottom of the fuel tank it would be 1psi plus the weight of the fuel. Understand or am i just off my rocker? I do realize that you would be talking about very small numbers and probably would not make a noticable difference to 99.999% of the people.

As for the shape of the tank. All other things being equal a large flat one would be more optimal as the fuel level would change less than a tall one. And in turn less pressure change to the carb which means less mixture change.

Hope i got this right. Please correct me if not.

skeeter




_____________________________

"It is easier to ask for forgiveness than permission".

Hide Signatures

(in reply to Bundubasher)
       Post #: 27

RE: fuel filler valve recommendations - 4/29/2010 8:51 AM   
Bundubasher



Posts: 687
Score: 112
Joined: 12/14/2008
Last Login: 5/4/2012
From: Cape L''''''''Agulhas, SOUTH AFRICA
Status: offline
Skeeter,

There is something called "pressure delay"... if the tube from the muffler to the tank is excessively long, very thin or pinched/kinked somewhere, then the pressure in the tank will build up/bleed off slowly - but it is due to wrong installation. With a correct installation, this pressure equalization (i.e. going from full speed to idle) is instantaneous. 

The density of 80/20 methanol/castor oil is around sg 0.83 or 6.7 lb/gal. Around 0.35 psi/vertical ft pressure gradient if I'm not mistaken.

The pressure variation due to height of fuel in the tank  in rc planes are insignificant. Tanks are too small.  What is critically important is correct tank installation and that the muffler that came with the engine have that "baffle plate" in.

This plate serves to disperse the sonic boom/pressure wave from the exhaust gas coming out of the engine port, but more important, it creates a certain amount of back pressure, sufficient to pressurize the fuel tank so the fuel can reach the carburettor at a certain pressure. 

Each engine muffler is designed around the carburrettor pressure requirement of that specific engine. The size, shape and volumetric placement of that baffle plate in the muffler (and size/shape of muffler) is engineered to feed the carb a contant flow of fuel and at certain pressure range regardless of the level of the fuel in the tank. Had fuel levels been that important, engine manufacturers would have specified tank sizes/dimensions.

If you take the baffle plate out, the muffler cannot pressurize the tank/carburrettor, and trouble starts. Other modifications (too long extention pipe etc) may increase the pressure too much, causing too high fuel pressure to the carb.

I keep it simple. All my glow engines with their unmodified mufflers are running trouble free for many years and never had problems with engine performance due to low fuel in the tank. These engines can run flatout  until all the fuel is used, then cut out. You get specialized mufflers for engines - they are specially designed and can improve performance. 

I know people who take out this baffle plate, believing the engine will run better, this is where the circle of trouble starts.

 

< Message edited by Bundubasher -- 4/29/2010 9:15 AM >


_____________________________

My experience is that continental drift sometimes causes the Earth to jump up and knock a plane out of the sky......

Hide Signatures

(in reply to skeeter_ca)
       Post #: 28

RE: fuel filler valve recommendations - 4/29/2010 8:19 PM   
skeeter_ca



Posts: 933
Score: 121
Joined: 11/30/2005
Last Login: 3/6/2013
From: Yucaipa, CA, USA
Status: offline
Well Bundu,
Just to let you know i was not advocating using this "Uni-Flow system". I was merely trying to figure out how it works and the justification for using it above others. Jaka was the one saying it should be used above all. I was not i any way saying it is a better system than any others out there. I personally use just the two line system as it simple and fool proof. I have not had to use a three line system yet.

You did state however-

"The pressure variation due to height of fuel in the tank in rc planes are insignificant. Tanks are too small. What is critically important is correct tank installation and that the muffler that came with the engine have that "baffle plate" in."

So the pressure variation due to height of fuel in the tank are insignificant, but what is critically important is correct tank installation. Doesn't correct tank installation include making sure the fuel level will be at the proper height in relation to the carb? Just making sure i read you correctly.

skeeter

_____________________________

"It is easier to ask for forgiveness than permission".

Hide Signatures

(in reply to Bundubasher)
       Post #: 29

RE: fuel filler valve recommendations - 4/30/2010 8:55 PM   
Bundubasher



Posts: 687
Score: 112
Joined: 12/14/2008
Last Login: 5/4/2012
From: Cape L''''''''Agulhas, SOUTH AFRICA
Status: offline
Hi Skeeter, no problem.
You're right, the tank needs to be at the correct height with the carburettor. The way I did with mine is to install the engine/tank in such a way that the carb is the same height as the rubber bung of the tank (where the brass tubes go through),

The pressure line from the muffler goes into the tank and curl up to the highest point without it blocking off by accident. It's been working for me for close onto 40 years.

Cheers Mate

_____________________________

My experience is that continental drift sometimes causes the Earth to jump up and knock a plane out of the sky......

Hide Signatures

(in reply to skeeter_ca)
       Post #: 30

RE: fuel filler valve recommendations - 5/3/2010 8:24 AM   
aerofly0610



Posts: 402
Score: 126
Joined: 11/30/2008
Last Login: 10/28/2012
From: Green Bay , WI, USA
Status: offline
I tried the great planes fuel valve.  All kinds of grit gets into it no matter what you do.  I switched everything over to the hanger 9 fuel dot.  Simple enough.  I don't do any stunts or 3ding so I don't have a need for the uni flow, but a fuel dot would work with it.



_____________________________

Team Jesus Freak
Yup you can love God AND airplanes... life is great

Hide Signatures

(in reply to Bundubasher)
       Post #: 31

RE: fuel filler valve recommendations - 9/29/2010 10:10 PM   
pura


 

Posts: 13
Score: 100
Joined: 8/11/2005
Last Login: 4/12/2013
From: StonewallManitoba, CANADA
Status: offline
Hi,
I came across this thread while looking for solutions to my Moki 1.8 and its problems in getting a consistent run. It is installed in an Aeroworks Extra where everything is pretty much set as per the ARF design- i.e. the tank is some distance away from the engine. Anyway, I thought I'd try the Uni-flow set up so I pulled the tank and set it up ( I think) according to the JAKA recommendations:
Clunk #1 to engine
Clunk #2 ( somewhat shorter) to the muffler
Overflow line to a Hangar 9 fuel dot.
So I started to fill the tank through the fuel dot and shortly afterward fuel was pouring out of the muffler! Seemed like it reached about half full and then started running out of the tank.
So what am I doing wrong?
Bill


Hi!
No ,No! Use the the Uni-flow system!
The line from the silencer is Not, I repeat is Not going up in the tank!!!! It should be going down same as the clunk line.That way you have two clunks running in parallel (side by side).That's the Uni-flow system.

The other lines is the over flow line which is going up in the top of the tank!

In a plane where you cannot get to the to the fuel lines when fueling (cowled in engine) you have the over flow line hanging down under the cowl and fuel trough the T-fitting line connected to the same fuel line that goes through the carb.
The overflow line is plugged with a 3mm screw after you have fueled up (same goes with the fueling line )!

Hide Signatures

(in reply to aerofly0610)
       Post #: 32

RE: fuel filler valve recommendations - 9/30/2010 4:23 AM   
skeeter_ca



Posts: 933
Score: 121
Joined: 11/30/2005
Last Login: 3/6/2013
From: Yucaipa, CA, USA
Status: offline
I believe with Jaka's setup with an enclosed engine you need to add a tee in the line from the tank to the carb with the line sticking out below the cowl and use a fuel dot to plug it. When fueling or defueling you remove both fuel dots and fuel into the teed line you just added. Also make sure the throttle is closed all the way. Hope this helps.

skeeter

_____________________________

"It is easier to ask for forgiveness than permission".

Hide Signatures

(in reply to pura)
       Post #: 33

RE: fuel filler valve recommendations - 11/16/2010 10:49 PM   
GoNavy


 

Posts: 423
Score: 100
Joined: 1/3/2002
Last Login: 5/18/2013
From: Rib Lake, WI, USA
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: jaka

Hi!
Yes! you can do as you describe , that's the more common way of doing it but...if you want a better system (The Uni-flow )...do as I told .
The Uni-flow system (with two clunks, one to carb and the other to silencer pressure) will provide a more even fuel flow to the carb and as such will not lean the engine out as an ordinary system will when the tanks empties.



Attached is copied from the Owners Manual for the Fox Eagle 60 and 74 (two stroke glow).

This seems similar to be what has been called the "uni-flow" system; (I see no difference between two clunks and soldering the vent line to the fuel clunk).
However, I wonder why Fox was instructing to leave the "vent" line open? Their engines came with mufflers that had pressure taps.


Attachments
Click to see fullsize image.
Click for fullsize


Hide Signatures

(in reply to jaka)
       Post #: 34

RE: fuel filler valve recommendations - 11/20/2010 6:10 AM   
flhyr


 

Posts: 189
Score: 100
Joined: 12/8/2005
Last Login: 5/16/2013
From: , TX, USA
Status: offline
Uniflow downside- chop your throttle really fast from full, watch fuel surge into your muffler.... and in my case, dead stick... over and over and over.

Hide Signatures

(in reply to GoNavy)
       Post #: 35

RE: fuel filler valve recommendations - 11/20/2010 11:36 PM   
GoNavy


 

Posts: 423
Score: 100
Joined: 1/3/2002
Last Login: 5/18/2013
From: Rib Lake, WI, USA
Status: offline
I want to be sure I understand the fueling systems discussed in this thread. Referring to the attached sketches:


2A is the typical 2 line setup. We detach the line to the carb when fueling or emptying the tank.

In 2b, to fuel or empty the tank, we use either 1) a valve in the carb line, 2) we install a fuel "T" in the carb line and run a line from the "T" to a fuel dot to seal the filler line during flight.

3A is the "uniflow" three line system described by Jan (Jaka); The line to the top of the tank is a vent line during filling or emptying the tank; It is plugged during flight.

3B is the three line system described by MinnFlyer and Bundubasher; The second clunk line is used to fill and empty and it is sealed by a fuel dot during flight.

I do not include systems which do not use muffler pressure, such as the Fox three line (post 34).

Do I have the systems correct on these sketches?


Attachments
Click to see fullsize image.
Click for fullsize
Click to see fullsize image.
Click for fullsize


Hide Signatures

(in reply to flhyr)
       Post #: 36

Page:   <<   < prev  1 [2]
All Forums >> RC Airplanes >> Tips & Techniques >> RE: fuel filler valve recommendations
Page: <<   < prev  1 [2]





Jump to:


 
Google 



Search | Marketplace | Event Calendar | Local Clubs | Magazine | Product Ratings | New Products | Discussion Forums

Photo Gallery | Instructor Search | Field|Track|Marina Search

Advertisers | Hobby Vendor Resources | Rate Manufacturers | Sign In/Sign Up

SITE MAP!   : :   FORUM RULES

RC Universe is a service of Internet Brands, Inc. Copyright © 2001-2013.

Charities we support that also need your help
Yorkie Rescue | Humane Society | ASPCA | Crohn's-Colitis America


2.594RCU1