As far as Diesel engines - the Gemini showed grate promise - a reincarnation
of the Junkers design, advertised as being as light and the same form factor
as the Rotax. Pity it has appearantly died the same death as all other
start-up engine mfg's.
Cheers Pete
A239
On Tue, Apr 19, 2011 at 10:36 AM, Robert Borger <rlborger@mac.com> wrote:
>
> Nigel,
>
> In all seriousness, an LP tank can be constructed from composite materials
> and, thus, be kept quite light. The issue with an LP thank is more form
> factor than weight. It must be cylindro-spherical in shape making locating
> it within an airframe more an issue. LP is also quite energy dense, even
> more than diesel, so it could be much smaller, lower volume, than a normal
> AvGas tank. Same with LNG, another option in the same category.
>
> Frans,
>
> You may be correct that there will be composite LP (or LNG) tanks of more
> random sizes. I have not seen them over here yet. Now all we need is to
> talk our FBOs into storing another fuel type and figure out how to meter it
> so you don't over fill. But that's all technical stuff and can probably be
> worked out. I doubt you will see switch fuel aviation engines. Too much
> complication with multiple carbs, plumbing, multiple fuel tanks, etc.
>
> Diesel engines, if it weren't for their weight issues, would be great as
> aero engines. Gobs of torque at low to moderate RPM lets you swing a big
> fat air mover at efficient RPM without complications like PSRUs.
>
> AvGas, as 100LL, isn't going away real soon. There just isn't a suitable
> replacement at this time and this fact has been recognized by the EPA and
> other organizations. 100LL WILL go away at some point in the future, but
> that point has not been set and, hopefully, won't be set till there is a
> suitable replacement. There are a few contenders for the title of 100LL
> replacement but only one appears to be making headway in the effort. 100SF
> (100 Swift Fuel) appears to be in the lead at the present time. It is in
> the production pilot plant stage of evaluation. More information can be
> obtained through the Wikipedia (search avgas) and at
> http://www.swiftenterprises.net/ if you are interested.
>
> Bob
>
> On Apr 19, 2011, at 3:23, Nigel Graham wrote:
>
> nigel_graham@m-tecque.co.uk>
> >
> >
> >
> > On 19/04/2011 07:32, Frans Veldman wrote:
> >> .....snip......
> >> ..... go straight to Diesel or propane. Here in the Netherlands about
> 1/3th of the
> >> gas cars has been converted to run on propane (LPG)
> >
> > .........and just how much does a propane tank weigh and what would that
> do for the Europa's C of G and performance? ;-)
> >
> > Nigel
>
>
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