Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => Aircraft and Vehicles => Topic started by: Wolfala on July 16, 2005, 01:38:47 AM

Title: Turbo-Compound Engines
Post by: Wolfala on July 16, 2005, 01:38:47 AM

What was the basis operating principle behind these? I remember the B-36 having them - what spawned their development?

Title: Turbo-Compound Engines
Post by: Holden McGroin on July 16, 2005, 03:03:59 AM

A turbo-compound engine collects all of the exhaust gasses and runs them through a turbine, with all of the power generated going back into the crankshaft and ultimately to the propeller. It differs from a turbo-supercharged engine, which uses exhaust gas energy to increase the pressure of incoming air.

It is just a way to recover some of the energy otherwise wasted in the exhaust stream.

(http://www.pilotfriend.com/aircraft%20performance/aero_engines/images/17hist.jpg)

Title: Turbo-Compound Engines
Post by: Maverick on July 16, 2005, 08:55:47 AM

You'll find this feature on a radial engine and it is simply a way to tap some waste energy leaving the engine. The engine will still be supercharged as the supercharger is powered by a gear train instead of by exhaust gasses. You have extra air being shoved in the intake to maintain power at altitude and the exhaust gasses giving an extra "nudge" to the crankshaft by the turbine in the rear.

Title: Turbo-Compound Engines
Post by: justin_g on July 17, 2005, 11:17:29 AM

Google tells me that this tech is currently used on diesel truck engines.