Future of Nitro Fuel??

[Geek]

James you had better start a design for a new type of engine

[Mojo]

I don't think that would stop people mixing their own.. Maybe taxation etc would make it un-profitable to produce.. But Methanol is so cheap, nitromethane isn't but can be sourced and oil is not that hard to buy.. All you need is the recipe from the your favourite brand

[Si Goodchild]

Enter this, a Hydrogen Fuel Cell Helicopter. Not a wind-up, this was extracted from Flight International. Now I know this is expensive technology now, but there are already "toy" cars powered by hydrogen fuel cells so this technology only needs to be made cheaper now, rather that workable. Note the quoted endurance

Si G

PICTURE: United Technologies claims fuel cell helicopter first
By Rob Coppinger


A hydrogen fuel cell-powered 10kg (22lb) helicopter model with a 2m (6.55ft) rotorspan has been flown for 20min by United Technologies' research centre at the company's East Hartford campus in Connecticut, USA.
The remote-controlled electric helicopter, normally powered by batteries, used a custom United Technologies proton exchange membrane cell fuelled by a 289bar (4,200lb/in2) gaseous hydrogen source and ambient air. The 3.4kg fuel cell, including its stack's ancillary components, has a power density of 514W/kg and a maximum power output of 1.75kW. The helicopter's controls, power electronics and telemetry were also implemented by UTRC. Without payload or fuel cell, the helicopter has a 4kg mass, reaching 10kg with the stack and fuel source. It could carry a 2.27kg payload in addition or could replace that payload with more fuel, enabling the helicopter to fly for up to 1.5h.

© United Technologies

"There will be more flights for the helicopter," says UTRC director and research vice-president David Parekh. "We will contiue to improve the power density and see how you would integrate the system."
However, the company does not intend to enter the UAV market or produce fuel cells for it. Instead, it is seeking improvements in power density for its existing energy markets. Parekh says a battery might be needed for the helicopter where a payload requires more power than the fuel cells could deliver at any one moment.
UTRC's first helicopter fuel cell flight used hydrogen and oxygen, not air, and took place in October last year. A €2.7 million ($4 million) European Union research project, called muFLY Fully Autonomous Micro Helicopter, has flown a 350g quadrotor for up to 15min this year using a 10W, 150g fuel cell and a lithium ion battery.

[Geek]

Optihomebrew

[Mojo]

Optihomebrew

Exactly!

[moyesboy]

I know a tame (well not all that tame) Chemist who will help us out - doh! he posted above!

nitro might get increasingly hard to get. but there is already a US fuel that doesn't use nitro but is supposed to work better and is cheaper. Yuo just have to shim the head on the motor and run a different plug.

By the way what happened to the magnum "buzz juice"? there was supposed to be a load of it in the UK end of last year - but unfortunately it was not sold cheaper than the normal stuff like it is in the USA

We can always run larger motors on straight methanol/oil fuel with no nitro.

The playing field is stacked towards electric in F3C so don't look there for the true trend toward electric from nitro.

in F3C:
I beleive the max ic motor capacity is limited.
They must use straight or very limited nitro content fuel.
They must start their motor within a set time or they are eliminated from the competition!

So given just the dire consequences of hydro locking your motor its not suprising that electric is popular - and they can have a far more powerful setup as well!

[GravityKills]

>> F3C
yes and:
fat pigs tend to fly in straight lines

[Gate88]

I know a tame (well not all that tame) Chemist who will help us out

I can think of way better things to get from a tame chemist than heli fuel!!!!!

[Dedcalm]

From what I've heard, it's running out on Friday. Doh! That's buggered my plans to fly on Sunday!

I've got a couple of bottles Martin so you can have a tank or 2 of mine