HabanaJoe, what did Eric's Reality have for power? AC in 89 was a great race!

Bob,

Eric's had the 4 Gentry Turbo engines. I think 850 hp each not sure?

Yea, that '89 AC was the last of the real open water races in the US I feel? That first day - it was brutal, so many boats took a beating. The 45 Kid Apache, she was under a tent after that day and they fiberglassing all kinds of things inside of her. There were no calm sections like going to Key West it was just less rough in some areas!!!!!

Hi Donzi,

Ah you're talking about the R3350 Wright 27 cylinder radial with power recovery turbines as used in the Lockheed Constellations.

That's what the Napier Nomad did: Turbo compounding. Took what the R3350 started and then took it way much further until it was essentially a gas turbine with a reciprocating combustion chamber.

Plus it was a diesel... Generated nearly 100bhp/l with 220g/kwh Fuel econ.

Essentially a flat 12 41 litre diesel with a secondary gas turbine underneath. The multi stage axial flow compressor created up to 70psi boost for the diesel engine which then expanded it's exhaust into the two stage axial flow turbine. For take off, extra fuel was burnt between the engine and turbine and also when a nozzle was added to the rear of the turbine, reheat was used as well so it created true jet thrust.

In addition to this, a variable speed drive recovered excess power from the turbine to the crankshaft. The whole lot then drove a propellor.....

Like I said, a true missing link!

Hi Excalibur,

Not just no lag but nearly full boost at idle too if required for launch control. Takes its toll on turbine life though if used to extremis.

can it be adapted to a marine gas engine?

There's no reason why not. The only downsides would be the effect on turbine life and the need to prevent excessive heat build up in the engine room.

We are talking competition car technology here though. Subaru use it extensively on their WRC rally car. This is engineered by Prodrive. Most top level rally cars use this technology.

Ruaraidh: I checked out your link; very interesting stuff. I thought you old guys might like to check this link for some history of the centrifugal supercharger.


www.vs57.com/history.htm

B29 and Connie both used 3350s. As did lots of other planes!

Actually Wkipedia has a good page on this. I have some papers on 3350s somewhere.

All engine history is good as you can always re-apply old ideas in the light of new materials.

3,500bhp would make an entertaining boat engine..... :D

So the exhaust temperature keeps the volume of air large, rather than cooling and decreasing in volume?