VansAirForceForums  
Home > VansAirForceForums

- POSTING RULES
- Donate yearly (please).
- Advertise in here!

- Today's Posts | Insert Pics

  #51  
Old 03-28-2020, 06:59 PM
Steve Melton's Avatar
Steve Melton Steve Melton is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Posts: 2,791
Default purging the rain forest

nice to see it coming out.



__________________
Steve Melton
Cincinnati, OH
RV-9A, Tip-up, Superior O-320, roller lifters, 160HP, WW 200RV, dual impulse slick mags, oil pressure = 65 psi, EGT = 1300F, flight hours = 800+ for all

Simplicity is the art in design.
My Artwork is freely given and published and cannot be patented.
www.rvplasticparts.com
Reply With Quote
  #52  
Old 03-28-2020, 09:41 PM
gasman gasman is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Sonoma County
Posts: 3,821
Default

Cheap and uses no power...... https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/d...-0790014p.html

It works very well. But be careful with the gathered moisture, it becomes corrosive after being adsorbed by the pellets and dropped into the container. Really not a problem.

............................................. $13.00 on Amazon...............Dri-Z-Air DZA-U Pot...............................................
__________________
VAF #897 Warren Moretti
2019 =VAF= Dues PAID

Last edited by gasman : 03-28-2020 at 09:59 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #53  
Old 04-03-2020, 03:51 PM
Steve Melton's Avatar
Steve Melton Steve Melton is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Posts: 2,791
Default readings

I connected an in-line sensor (cheap sensor) from the return line to measure the humidity. I connected the Engine Dehumidifying Unit (EDU) (because EDU is better than ED) after a flight, after an hour it peaked at 92% but then dropped to 10% in the next hour. that is the lower limit of this cheap sensor. overall, I like the dehumidifier and I will continue to use it.



__________________
Steve Melton
Cincinnati, OH
RV-9A, Tip-up, Superior O-320, roller lifters, 160HP, WW 200RV, dual impulse slick mags, oil pressure = 65 psi, EGT = 1300F, flight hours = 800+ for all

Simplicity is the art in design.
My Artwork is freely given and published and cannot be patented.
www.rvplasticparts.com

Last edited by Steve Melton : 04-04-2020 at 03:38 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #54  
Old 04-22-2020, 09:06 PM
Steve Melton's Avatar
Steve Melton Steve Melton is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Posts: 2,791
Default oil appears clearer

I connected a closed loop dehydrator to cycle dry air to the oil filler neck and thru the crankcase vent and run it continuously. When I check the oil level the on the dipstick, it appears clearer or could it be I am imagining this. Is there any way dry air could make oil clearer in the way I'm using it?
__________________
Steve Melton
Cincinnati, OH
RV-9A, Tip-up, Superior O-320, roller lifters, 160HP, WW 200RV, dual impulse slick mags, oil pressure = 65 psi, EGT = 1300F, flight hours = 800+ for all

Simplicity is the art in design.
My Artwork is freely given and published and cannot be patented.
www.rvplasticparts.com

Last edited by Steve Melton : 04-23-2020 at 06:06 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #55  
Old 05-08-2020, 06:20 PM
Steve Melton's Avatar
Steve Melton Steve Melton is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Posts: 2,791
Default

It's been 5 weeks of continuous recirculating flow. This is the result. I added an extra gallon. I'll put it on a timer now.





__________________
Steve Melton
Cincinnati, OH
RV-9A, Tip-up, Superior O-320, roller lifters, 160HP, WW 200RV, dual impulse slick mags, oil pressure = 65 psi, EGT = 1300F, flight hours = 800+ for all

Simplicity is the art in design.
My Artwork is freely given and published and cannot be patented.
www.rvplasticparts.com
Reply With Quote
  #56  
Old 05-08-2020, 06:28 PM
TimO TimO is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 612
Default

Steve, yours was orange media, correct? Just asking.

I used blue media and changed mine out for regeneration last week. It ran all the way from November thru April and could have run much longer, but it had started to turn colors. So it looks like I should be able to get by all winter with one set of media, and we'll have to see how much the summer humidity changes things. Probably not too much since it's all just recirculating in the engine.
2-3 times per year isn't too bad. I'm thrilled with that.
__________________
Tim Olson - CFI
RV-10 N104CD - Flying 2/2006 - 1400+ hours http://www.MyRV10.com
RV-14 N14YT - Flying 6/2016 - 350+ hours http://www.MyRV14.com
Reply With Quote
  #57  
Old 05-08-2020, 06:40 PM
BillL BillL is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Central IL
Posts: 5,516
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve Melton View Post
It's been 5 weeks of continuous recirculating flow. This is the result. I added an extra gallon. I'll put it on a timer now.
Steve, This is recirculating in the engine, but how many times have you flown?

If none, you have air leaks. If recirculating and not flying it should run a year without needing to be regenerated. BTDT
__________________
Bill

RV-7
Lord Kelvin:
“I often say that when you can measure what you are speaking about,
and express it in numbers, you know something about it; but when you
cannot measure it, when you cannot express it in numbers, your knowledge
is of a meager and unsatisfactory kind.”
Reply With Quote
  #58  
Old 05-08-2020, 06:54 PM
Bavafa Bavafa is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 3,351
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by TimO View Post
Steve, yours was orange media, correct? Just asking.

I used blue media and changed mine out for regeneration last week. It ran all the way from November thru April and could have run much longer, but it had started to turn colors. So it looks like I should be able to get by all winter with one set of media, and we'll have to see how much the summer humidity changes things. Probably not too much since it's all just recirculating in the engine.
2-3 times per year isn't too bad. I'm thrilled with that.
Tim,
Do you measure the humidity in your engine/system? How do you know that it is actually working well
As a reference, mine is setup in a closed loop system (other than exhaust valve or intake valve that might be open. I have a sensor that measures humidity and kicks on the pump when it reaches a certain %. I am using half a gallon in two jars and set up the humidity to go as low as 10% and kick the pump back on when it comes up to 15% so the pump is not running all the time. In the dry N. CA weather, the typical humidity in the engine is between 55-60% after an hour of flying. My first gallon lasted me only three months and I found recharging them, they are not nearly as effective as when they are new.
This time around I am going to take more care in recharging them, too much heat will kill them (turning black)
There have been multiple times that I have observe the pump continuously running, unable to bring the humidity to the 10% level and the silica is still blueish color.

Hope this adds value to everyone's attempt in building/using this.
__________________
Mehrdad
N825SM RV7A - IO360M1B - SOLD
N825MS RV14A - IO390 - Flying
Dues paid
Reply With Quote
  #59  
Old 05-08-2020, 07:20 PM
TimO TimO is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 612
Default

I'm not anal enough to put a humidity meter on it. The media will turn colors as appropriate. When I ran it open loop, I could see color changing fairly quickly. When I ran it closed loop, it didn't. I'm just trying to keep it all simple, yet effective. I've got 2 systems on 2 planes with 2 jugs of media in each dry case, and the media does a good enough job telling you by color change what the approximate level is likely to be. As far as I'm concerned, if it's pumping air through the media, which it is, it's definitely going to be good enough for me. My cases are sealed air tight enough that you have to fight a suction to open them, so there aren't many places for leaks. I also cap my exhaust pipes, so there's really very limited places for anything to enter the engine. Really just the intake is about it, and even that I plug on one of the airplanes with a cowl plug. I also don't worry about turning off the pumps. They run 24x7x365. It's just an aquarium pump, so not enough to concern me about electric cost. I didn't wait for the media to turn very pink before I changed it. Mine stayed very dark blue all winter, and when I first could see that the outermost layer in the jug was turning pinkish, I decided to regenerate it.

I do find that if I don't pull the dipstick and let the engine release its vapors, the media where the air comes in does turn discolored. So when I changed media, I sucked off the top inch with a vacuum cleaner and threw it away. When I did the regen, I did it for a full 3 hours. I watched a youtube video where a guy tested various time lengths and he saw more and more moisture lost measured by weight, based on time. It does decrease after 3 hours so I left it at that. It turned a dark blue and stayed that way after 3 hours. I also did it at 260 degrees, and did it in a few shallow pans where the media was no more than 1" deep, stirring every 15 minutes or so. I originally tried a large bowl and found that the stuff on top would dry well but lower levels would not. At least not quickly. So keeping it shallow and stirring fixed that.

For desiccant, I bought 5 x 8lb jugs of it. It takes just over 1 jug to fill my two half-gallon jugs for one plane. So basically I have a little less than 6 gallons or so ready in jugs when I need to change it out. I could get by with less, but I figure I'll regenerate them for both planes at the same time so that I can just take over the kitchen a couple times a year for one evening.

I'm definitely feeling very good about how this is going to work for the engines. It helps me worry less about if I'm going to be able to fly often or not. Right now, the answer is not...as I'm furloughed thru at least the middle of August. So with no paycheck its a perfect time to have some good engine preservation if I can only get out every month or so maybe a couple times.

Regarding the capping of the exhaust, I got vinyl caps on Amazon. Also got "remove before flight" keychains. Then put a small hole I the cap and tied the keychain through with rope and ran one end of the rope into the cap through a tight hole, thru a washer, and then tied it in a knot. Then siliconed the washer and rope right to the cap. So it's sealed up, and the remove before flight keeps me noticing the caps. Plus, my air hose going into the breather tube runs right between the exhaust.

This is one of those things that I think many builders should do for their planes. It can only help their investment stay rust free.


Here's a pic of the media color when I changed it. This is about 5.5 months with routine flying most of the winter. You can see the top where the oil vapor discolored some of it. That was my fault. A few times I went flying and immediately put the suction on. I should have let the engine vent a couple minutes first.


__________________
Tim Olson - CFI
RV-10 N104CD - Flying 2/2006 - 1400+ hours http://www.MyRV10.com
RV-14 N14YT - Flying 6/2016 - 350+ hours http://www.MyRV14.com

Last edited by TimO : 05-08-2020 at 07:28 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #60  
Old 05-09-2020, 01:11 AM
Steve Melton's Avatar
Steve Melton Steve Melton is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Posts: 2,791
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by BillL View Post
Steve, This is recirculating in the engine, but how many times have you flown?

If none, you have air leaks. If recirculating and not flying it should run a year without needing to be regenerated. BTDT
I think this is after 6 flights. the return line humidity sensor would reach 80% after an hour and then drop to 10% over the next hour. 10% is it's lower reading capability. it's a cheap sensor. the return line is plugged into the crankcase breather exit. there is a small vent hole above that so it is probably pulling in some amount of ambient air. a timer will extend the life hopefully by a factor of 2X. I'm OK with that. the dehydrator gives me piece of mind when I don't fly.
__________________
Steve Melton
Cincinnati, OH
RV-9A, Tip-up, Superior O-320, roller lifters, 160HP, WW 200RV, dual impulse slick mags, oil pressure = 65 psi, EGT = 1300F, flight hours = 800+ for all

Simplicity is the art in design.
My Artwork is freely given and published and cannot be patented.
www.rvplasticparts.com

Last edited by Steve Melton : 05-09-2020 at 02:13 AM.
Reply With Quote
Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 07:12 AM.


The VAFForums come to you courtesy Delta Romeo, LLC. By viewing and participating in them you agree to build your plane using standardized methods and practices and to fly it safely and in accordance with the laws governing the country you are located in.