:. Projects
:. Asteroseismology
:. Dark Matter Galaxies
:. EPR
:. Gravitophotons
:. Hybrid Rocket Engine
:. Pulse-Ram Induction

:. Sections:
:. Introduction
:. Purpose
:. Problem
:. Test
:. Theory
:. Analysis
:. Design Parameters
:. Concepts
:. Final Design
:. Evaluation
:. Conclusion
:. Appendix A
:. Appendix B
:. Appendix C
:. Appendix D

:. Data:
:. Torque Power Data
:. Compression Data

:. Feedback:
:. thegraben@gmail.com

:. Sponsors

:. The Graben

Appendix A:  Physical Experiment
 
Objective:
 
To determine the length of pipe, when added at the carburetor, to maximize compression in the cylinder.

Equipment:
 
 
     ·    1977 Suzuki GS550
     ·    1 ¼ inch inside diameter PVC pipe
     ·    Rubber coupling for 1 ¼ inch pipe
     ·    PCB model 112A03 piezoelectric pressure transducer
     ·    Piezoelectric transducer adapter manufactured by MAE shop
     ·    Dial-Cal model 503 electrostatic charge amplifier
     ·    National Instruments model NB-MI0-166 data acquisition board
     ·    National Instruments Labview,   v3.1
     ·    Apple Computer
     ·    Dead Weight Tester
 
 
Experimental Setup:
 
Part 1:  Calibration of data acquisition
 
     1.   The pressure transducer was connected to the dead weight tester.
     2.   The signal from the transducer was routed through the charge amp to
            the data acquisition board mounted in the computer.


The pressure transducer


 
Part 2:  Physical Experiment
 
     1.   The pressure transducer was mounted in the special adapter.
     2.   The transducer/adapter was threaded into the spark plug fitting of
           cylinder 4 of the motorcycle engine.
     3.   The signal from the transducer was routed through the charge amp to
            the data acquisition board mounted in the computer.
     4.   The PVC pipe was attached flush to the carburetor with the rubber
           coupling


Setup for physical experiment



The mounted pressure transducer


The data aquisition system


Experimental Procedure
 
Part 1:  Calibration of data acquisition
 
     1.   Connect the equipment as described above.
     2.   Set range of data acquisition board to –5V to +5V.
     3.   Set charge amp to lowest gain and select charge amp sensitivity to
           match piezoelectric transducer. (1K and 1 mV/psi, respectively.)
     4.   Apply 200 lbf to dead weight tester and view signal data acquisition
           board receives on computer screen.
     5.   If signal does not saturate adjust gain of charge amp to next higher
           setting and repeat steps 1 and 2.
     6.   Adjust charge amp to highest gain that did not saturate.  (Should be
           gain setting one less than current.)
     7.   Apply 200 lbf to dead weight tester and view signal data acquisition
           board receives on computer screen.
     8.   Adjust sensitivity of charge amp higher if data acquisition signal does
            not appear full on computer screen.  (Full scale meaning up to 5V.)
     9.   Repeat steps 6 and 7 until signal is full scale.  (This increases the
           resolution of the signal.)
     10. Record current settings of charge amp for use in experiment.
     11. Apply 50 lbf to dead weight tester and record signal from charge
           amp.
     12. Save 50 lbf response data to file.
     13. Repeat steps 10 and 11 5 times.
     14. Apply 200 lbf to dead weight tester and record signal from charge
           amp.
     15. Save 200 lbf response data to file.
     16. Repeat steps 10 and 11 5 times.
     17. Plot the data from steps 10 to 15 and determine the sensitivity of the
           system in mV/psi.
 
 
Part 2:  Physical Experiment
 
     1.   Connect the equipment as described above and as shown in figure
           A-1, except DO NOT attach PVC pipe to carburetor.
     2.   Collect pressure data for 0.5 sec at engine speeds of 5500 rpm and
           7000 rpm with original plenum in place.
     3.   Remove original plenum.
     4.   Cut the PVC pipe to 24 in. and connect to carburetor with rubber
           coupling.
     5.   Collect pressure data for 0.5 sec at engine speeds of 5500 rpm and
           7000 rpm.
     6.   Remove pipe from carburetor, cut 2 in. off length and reattach to
           carburetor.  (i. e.:  From 24 in. length to 22 in. length on first
            iteration.)
     7.   Repeat steps 5 and 6 until data has been collected at all pipe lengths
           from 24 in. to 2 in.
     8.   Collect pressure data for 0.5 sec at engine speeds of 5500 rpm and
           7000 rpm with no pipe attached to carburetor.


 

Partial flow diagram for physical experiment.


Attaching a length of pipe


Experimental setup


Measuring the engine speed


Experimental Results
 
 
Part 1:  Calibration of Data Acquisition
 
     ·    Gain of charge amp:                        5K
     ·    Sensitivity of charge amp:                35 mV/psi
     ·    Sensitivity of system:                       15 mV/psi
 
 
Part 2:  Physical Experiment
 
Below is the graphical representation of compressions for all lengths tested.



Average compression versus pipe length