Pressurized fueling systems

[DSRacing]

Does F1 currently allow the use of a pressurized re-fueling system or are the current systems gravity fed. There is a discussion on another racing website I frequent regarding the safety of a system someone developed for fueling an off-road race truck.

The system is capable of flowing approximately 3 U.S. gallons a second and is pressurized using CO2.

[timbo]

Does F1 currently allow the use of a pressurized re-fueling system or are the current systems gravity fed.

There's definetely a pump in the fuel rig. Gravity fed system won't allow steady flow rate.

[zac510]

Yes they have a mechanical pump that pressurises the fuel to several hundred bar. I can't recall the figure, I had it written down but these days I think it is FIA regulated to a maximum.

[rjsa]

The pumps are standard supplied by one approved manufacturer and if my memory serves me it pushes 12L/s, by law.

[MattF1]

They can also use gravity fed systems, with the engines switched off outside of the race.

[Scuderia_Russ]

Yes they have a mechanical pump that pressurises the fuel to several hundred bar.

That much is it?

[axle]

I could imagine a 100+ psi figure but not a 100+ bar figure!

[zac510]

5.7.1 The pressure of the fuel supplied to the injectors may not exceed 100 bar. Sensors must be fitted which
directly measure the pressure of the fuel supplied to the injectors, these signals must be supplied to the
FIA data logger.

Well, only one hundred bar

[majicmeow]

5.7.1 The pressure of the fuel supplied to the injectors may not exceed 100 bar. Sensors must be fitted which
directly measure the pressure of the fuel supplied to the injectors, these signals must be supplied to the
FIA data logger.

Well, only one hundred bar

That 100bar figure is for the fuel pressure for the engine, not the re-fueling rig.

100bar of fuel pressure is actually fairly common in modern engines as well, so its really not that much pressure...

[zac510]

oh sorry I completely misunderstood the question

[DSRacing]

Thanks for all the information, looks like both systems deliver comparable flow rates. A postive aspect to the Co2 system is it is a self contained unit which allows it to be used in remote and isolated areas. It was supposed to be used in a 450 mile race from Las Vegas to Reno Nevada this weekend.

In the 2004 Baja 1000, a car to car, on the fly Co2 system was used once and promptly banned.