Rotary10-RV
Well Known Member
Guys I'm placing this here in hopes people will spot it and comment. I also plan to post it in the building tips/techniques to see what people think of the idea. Background; I plan to use an alternate engine system with electronic fuel injection. (not here to argue the point this is a completely seperate idea suggested on another forum that would work with Lyc or alternate engine)
Fuel management and systems are a frequently dicussed item in all sorts of forums. Poor fuel management leads to engine outs and sometimes crashes. At the very least momentary panic as we struggle to restart the engine knowing there is still plenty of fuel in "at least one of the tanks" ((famous last words?) Rather than a selector valve, someone suggested why not run a big tube between both tanks and make them one big tank? I know that in long turns fuel could slosh between wings, and other problems but even in single wing tanks we will baffle to keep the fuel at the wing root. Why not put in a non-structural rib about 6" from the inside wall on both sides with inward facing trapdoors. This would trap about 5 gallons around the center pickup, almost like a header tank. It should keep the pickup covered in all but serious aerobatics. Comments? One line from the tank/s, one return, no selector valve. couldn't be simpler. Redundant pumps could still be used, the plumbing would just be simpler. The more I think about it the more I like the idea.
Bill Jepson
Rotary10-RV
Fuel management and systems are a frequently dicussed item in all sorts of forums. Poor fuel management leads to engine outs and sometimes crashes. At the very least momentary panic as we struggle to restart the engine knowing there is still plenty of fuel in "at least one of the tanks" ((famous last words?) Rather than a selector valve, someone suggested why not run a big tube between both tanks and make them one big tank? I know that in long turns fuel could slosh between wings, and other problems but even in single wing tanks we will baffle to keep the fuel at the wing root. Why not put in a non-structural rib about 6" from the inside wall on both sides with inward facing trapdoors. This would trap about 5 gallons around the center pickup, almost like a header tank. It should keep the pickup covered in all but serious aerobatics. Comments? One line from the tank/s, one return, no selector valve. couldn't be simpler. Redundant pumps could still be used, the plumbing would just be simpler. The more I think about it the more I like the idea.
Bill Jepson
Rotary10-RV