Thread: Fuel tank foam
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Old June 28th 07, 05:25 AM posted to rec.aviation.homebuilt
TeamFCAR
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Default Fuel tank foam

Morgans wrote:
"Ron Natalie" wrote


It IS a problem. It's a problem for NASCAR, they just engineer around it.
As I said, make sure you are designing your fuel cell for the
max flow rate (typically takeoff) and not for the cruise power
settings.



What do you mean by they "engineer around it?"

The fuel cell, in the end, needs to supply the required fuel flow to make
the HP, right?

I am interested in what you have heard. I never heard about fuel cell flow
being a problem.


For those not familiar with fuel tank foam and the typical racing
application. I have run a number of SCCA race cars over the years from
Formula Fords to Trans Am, and they all must have a Fuel Cell that is an
~0.06" thick Aluminum Box to protect the Bladder and filled with foam.

The foam is a very open structure where each interconnected "bubble" is
approximately 0.10" in diameter and thus is mostly air. Another poster
mentioned 3% which sounds about right for the density. It is not so
closed as to restrict the flow of fuel in the tank but in case of a
breach in the bladder it will reduce the spray.

In order to get the necessary fuel flow it is only necessary to get the
correct pick up and size of fuel line, really no different than a
"normal" aircraft. Back in the day, circa 1987, the 700+ Hp Trans Am
cars got 4 miles to the gallon on Dash 6 Aeroquip line so unless you
have an extremely high strung motor to feed the fuel cell should be able
to handle the flow.


Mike Butler
Crew Chief
Team Traditional Slate Racing
#10 Formula Atlantic

and student pilot...