At the most recent meeting of the engine working group last Tuesday it emerged that constructors are looking for an engine formula that will provide simpler and lighter engines, following a considerable weight increase since the introduction of the Hybrid power units in 2014.
PlatinumZealot wrote:Naturally aspirated.
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MGUH only on charging events.
Exhaust turbine but no compressor?
It is being done in research at least. Can't find it now, but it was written about in RET a while ago.
Use exhaust gases to power a turbine for electrical generation only.
I think the primary "issue" to solve is the RPM of the ICE, they should raise to at least 15.000 RPM, so maybe just change the fuel flow formula to hit max fuel flow at 13.500 RPM?
Also a bigger battery pack (6-8 MJ?) and a more powerful MGU-K (180-240 kW?).
I think this will be pretty much "cheap", "loud" and "fast".
I wonder what would be more exiting to see. The current system, were we have 120kw electric power available for almost a full lap. Or like 200-300Kw but only for some short bursts.
current 7/8 speed transmission technology enables the supercharger (with software-modulated intake throttling) to be driven mechanically
(the V16 BRM could have done with this, its final version had 'vortex-throttled' supercharger, good for 800 hp @13000 rpm)
or we could seperate turbocharging from the recovery turbine, if turbocharging is sufficiently responsive at the 4+ bar needed for 2x equivalence ratio
unlimited energy recovery rate and storage is viable, but only if done by primarily mechanical systems
flywheel ES connected via epicyclic gearing continuously variable by management of differential input rpm (eg Prius)
no need for friction braking (if awd/recovery)
this would also stop the fraud that is qualifying
stuffing the batteries, and throwing them away after 15 min use
or should we go pseudo all-electric ?
a petrol-electric free-piston (no crankshaft, no gears) ICE outputting via linear electric generators to battery and awd motorgenerators
braking recovery power would naturally be limited by size, weight, and cooling issues to propulsion power ie about 1.2g's worth
so we'd need the traditional friction braking (or some huge and controversially moveable airbrake functionality)