Intake manifold primary trumpet tuning options for fuel flow limited high Performance I.C.E

The 2014 change in Formula One regulations, from naturally aspirated to highly-downsized and heavily-boosted hybridized power units, led to a relevant increase of the internal combustion engine brake specific power output in comparison with former V-8 units. The newly designed “downsized” engines are characterized by a fuel flow limitation and a relevant increase in the thermal loads acting on the engine components, in particular on those facing the combustion chamber. Furthermore, efficiency becomes an equivalent paradigm as performance. In the power unit layout, the air path is defined by the compressor, the intercooler and the piping from the intake plenum to the cylinder. Intake duct length is defined from intake plenum to valve seat and it is a key parameter for engine performance. In order to find the optimum length different design criteria can be applied: the so called “tuning”, the “un-tuning” or the “anti-tuning” are all valid possibilities, showing pros and cons. The scope of the paper is to study and present the possible different tuning options for the internal combustion engine (ICE) part of a hybrid F1 powertrain. From 2015, variable trumpet can be used: the continuous variable length may be used to optimize volumetric efficiency and furthermore to reduce knocking and improve combustion accordingly. The scope of the paper is to show and qualitatively compare all the different options for a hybrid powertrain with fuel flow limited combustion unit.