Republic of China: Ace Pilot

Chapter 451, Section 447: The Road to Domestically Produced Aero Engines - Supernatural Ability Modification of the V12 Aero Engine

The complete set of production data for aero engines has arrived, and the technical personnel and data are all included.

It seems that the Spanish Civil War did indeed cause huge losses to Hispano-Suiza's two major shareholders.

Fang Wen also learned from other sources that Hispano-Suiza, while establishing a joint venture factory with him, sold its French subsidiary that produces aircraft engines to the French government, essentially making a double profit.

In order to get the full payment and subsequent profit sharing from Fang Wen, they actually brought their years of experience in piston engines.

Fang Wen was very excited.

Even in the future, it took a great deal of effort to acquire complete aero-engine technology.

Even piston-type aircraft engines are very important.

Fang Wen felt that he could draw inspiration from these technologies using his superpowers and move towards jet engines.

In that case, air superiority would be completely in China's own hands, and with the cooperation of air and ground forces, driving out the Japanese would be a piece of cake.

With this vision in mind, Fang Wen put aside other matters and focused on research into aero-engine production technology.

Hispano-Suiza's sincerity is very high.

In order to get the Asian joint venture plant up and running as soon as possible, two Hispano-Suiza 12X V12 liquid-cooled engine prototypes were also delivered to the data and personnel production line.

This prototype was built for research purposes, and its outer shell can be easily disassembled and assembled.

Fang Wen, carrying production materials and accompanied by European technicians, began studying the Hispano-Suiza 12X V12 liquid-cooled engine in an empty hangar at the aircraft manufacturing plant.

His first step was to thoroughly understand the entire technology of the Hispano-Suiza 12X V12 liquid-cooled engine.

The engine uses a V12 configuration.

It is a V-type 12-cylinder layout, with two rows of cylinders arranged in a V-shape, six on each side.

Hispano-Suiza engineers designed this layout to provide greater power within a compact space, while also ensuring relatively smooth engine operation.

With the help of his supernatural abilities, Fang Wen easily learned about the internal structure and operating mode of the Hispano-Suiza 12X V12 liquid-cooled engine. By combining this with reverse learning from technical materials, he quickly understood this aircraft engine technology.

As an aircraft designer and ace pilot, he had a thorough understanding of various aircraft engines of the time.

Therefore, a comparative analysis of these different configurations of aero engines was conducted.

The results showed that there are only two types of the best aircraft engines: inline V-type liquid-cooled engines and radial air-cooled engines.

The representative of V-type liquid-cooled engines is not the one Fang Wen has, but the Merlin V12 liquid-cooled engine from Rolls-Royce in the UK, and the DB 601 engine produced by Daimler-Benz in Germany for the Bf 109 fighter jet.

These types of engines were originally used in high-end sports cars, and they remain the preferred choice for many sports car models after the war.

Its characteristics are:

A larger number of cylinders usually results in a larger displacement, which can produce higher power and torque.

This allows vehicles and aircraft to reach extremely high speeds in a short time, with exceptional acceleration performance.

In addition, the cylinder arrangement of the V12 engine ensures a more uniform ignition interval, resulting in smoother engine operation. The reciprocating motions of the 12 cylinders cancel each other out, reducing vibration and noise.

Furthermore, the V12 engine has a long history of development, and after extensive research and improvement, the related technologies are very mature. Whether it's the engine manufacturing process or the supporting fuel injection, intake, and exhaust systems, there are comprehensive solutions available, making the V12 engine's performance more stable and its maintenance relatively convenient.

Such engines perform well in military aircraft.

The Pratt & Whitney engine, a prime example of a radial air-cooled engine, was used by Fang Wen in his seaplane series.

The cylinders are arranged radially around the crankshaft, like stars shining brightly. In operation, the connecting rod of one piston is fixed to the main rod, and the connecting rods of the other pistons are hinged to the main rod.

The reciprocating motion of the piston within the cylinder drives the connecting rod, causing the crankshaft to rotate and output power. During operation, it rotates counterclockwise around the main connecting rod crankshaft and follows a specific firing sequence.

The advantages of this type of engine are: good heat dissipation, with each cylinder directly contacting the oncoming airflow; compact structure, with a relatively short overall engine length; simple crankshaft structure, easy to ensure machining accuracy, and convenient maintenance; and the relatively low speed of the radial engine allows it to directly drive the propeller without the need for complex reduction gears.

According to Fang Wen, although its overall performance is slightly inferior to that of a V12 engine, it is cheaper, has a simpler structure, and is more suitable for mass production, which aligns with the efficiency and profit of industrial manufacturing.

After making a comparative analysis, Fang Wen pondered in his heart.

For large-scale production of military aircraft, Pratt & Whitney's radial air-cooled engine is the preferred choice from the perspectives of cost and efficiency.

However, from the perspective of the actual combat effectiveness of military aircraft, the V12 liquid-cooled engine is better.

Under the current circumstances, Fang Wen prefers a lean and efficient approach.

After all, the resources he could obtain were not that abundant during a nationwide war.

However, the Hispano-Suiza 12X V12 liquid-cooled engine technology is not as good as that of Rolls-Royce and Daimler-Benz. Its shortcomings must be identified and corrected in order to enable it to perform better.

After more careful research, especially after installing it on an experimental aircraft and having Fang Wen test-fly it, Fang Wen gained a deeper understanding of this aero engine and also discovered its shortcomings.

The Hispano-Suiza 12X V12 liquid-cooled engine is indeed inferior to the top-tier Rolls-Royce and Daimler-Benz engines among inline aero engines.

To this end, Fang Wen convened a meeting of all the engineering and technical personnel of the newly established aircraft engine factory.

The Yangon Industrial Park, formerly the site of a bomb factory and bullet factory, has now been converted into an aircraft engine manufacturing plant.

The technical conference convened by Fang Wen was also held at the aircraft engine manufacturing plant.

Technicians from Europe, along with engineers and key technical personnel selected from aircraft manufacturing plants, gathered together.

Meanwhile, to facilitate better communication during the conference, a French translator recruited from the Southwest Associated University provided on-site translation for the European technicians.

Fang Wen took the stage and got straight to the point.

"Today's technical conference is mainly about discussing the technical shortcomings of existing aero engines."

Apart from the voices of the Chinese and French translators, the room was completely silent.

"After a month of technical research, we discovered that the engine's technical defects are mainly in three aspects. First, the power output is limited: the engine's power is relatively low compared to other engines of the same type at the same time. Its early model, the 12XBR, had a rated power of 500 horsepower, and even the current improved model, the 12XBRs, only has a power of 720 horsepower. This limits the performance improvement of aircraft equipped with this engine, such as flight speed, rate of climb, and range, putting them at a disadvantage when confronting enemy aircraft equipped with high-power engines."

The first flaw made some of the new European technicians who had never met Fang Wen realize that their new boss was not just talking big, but was truly capable.

Fang Wen continued his speech.

"Secondly, the supercharger design of this aircraft engine is flawed. The actual performance of the supercharger in the 12X engine is substandard, which will limit its performance at high altitudes."

In response, a newly arrived European technician chimed in, disagreeing. "This engine is already used in official French Air Force aircraft, meaning it has passed military acceptance testing. The situation you described is impossible."

This is a rare instance of questioning Fang Wen's authority.

Within the large community of Taishan, everyone blindly believed that Fang Wen was omnipotent. The words of this European technician greatly surprised the engineers and technical backbone on the other side.

Fang Wen, however, felt that this was better. Blind trust was not a good thing; one had to be able to accept questioning in order to better discover problems and make changes.

But now, he doesn't think he's wrong, and immediately replied:

"I know the French Air Force uses this engine extensively—the Potez 540, Loire 130, Hanriot H.110, and Amiot 350. But I don't think they truly understand its performance. During my test flights, I discovered that as altitude increases, the engine's air intake becomes significantly insufficient in the thin air conditions at high altitudes, leading to reduced combustion efficiency and power, making it difficult to meet the aircraft's power demands at high altitudes. As an experienced fighter pilot, I can tell you this is very serious. In intense high-altitude air combat, aircraft equipped with this engine will be inferior to their opponents in terms of maneuverability and speed at high altitudes, and by then, it will be too late."

The European technician was stunned, then said sincerely, "I am French. If that's really the case, please also inform the French Air Force. Thank you."

Fang Wen nodded. If the problem was solved, he would use it as leverage to negotiate with the French and obtain some resources.

He then went on to explain the defects he had discovered.

"Thirdly, its cooling system needs improvement. After my high-altitude, low-temperature tests, I found that at altitudes of 6000-7000 meters, the engine's cooling system malfunctions due to the sub-zero temperatures. This can lead to problems such as coolant leaks and radiator damage. Once the liquid cooling system fails, the engine will overheat, affecting its performance and even causing mechanical failures. This defect is unacceptable and must be improved. I don't want to see military aircraft equipped with this engine suddenly stall at high altitudes in the future."

At this point, Fang Wen finished explaining the three technical defects he had discovered, each of which was very serious and even involved the very foundation of the engine.

The European technicians were somewhat bewildered. They had all participated in the engine's technical upgrades and improvements, but they hadn't expected such a significant technical hazard to exist.

This made them very frustrated.

After all, so many serious technical problems have already put this engine on the verge of failure.

They were wondering if the joint venture to build the factory was going to fall through and everyone would have to go home.

But that's not the case. Fang Wen hadn't finished speaking.

"Now, let's move on to the next part of the meeting. Let's discuss how to improve the equipment and resolve the technical defects."

No one spoke; no one knew what to say.

"Since you won't say anything, I'll start. Regarding the first defect, I propose replacing the intake manifold and throttle body to increase the intake volume, improve the fuel-air mixing efficiency, and make combustion more complete. In addition, replace the carburetor with a fuel injection system."

He mentioned a new technology that most people were unaware of.

Carburetors have always been the preferred fuel input device for engines throughout this era.

It utilizes the kinetic energy of the intake airflow to atomize gasoline, thereby achieving efficient combustion of fuel in the engine, making it arguably the heart of the engine.

Now that Fang Wen is going to replace the carburetor with a new device, how could the technicians not be surprised?

A European technician couldn't help but ask, "What is a fuel injection system?"

Fang Wen smiled and replied, "Fuel injection is currently a very advanced technology, mastered by only a few people. I happen to have some understanding of this technology, so our factory's primary goal is to develop the fuel injection system. Then we can solve other problems."

In 1938, only Germany possessed the technology to control fuel injection systems.

Boeing had previously attempted this with the P-26, but it failed. Fang Wen's Shrike was a result of this failure.

Bosch of Germany possessed a technology for diesel injection pumps and was tasked with developing gasoline injection technology after Hitler came to power.

The fuel injection technology used by Daimler-Benz in aircraft engines likely originated from Bosch.

Given the lack of electronic technology at the time, Fang Wen judged that Bosch's technology likely employed purely mechanical fuel injection.

The principle behind it can be guessed from the text; it should be that high-pressure fuel is generated through a mechanical oil pump.

The process involves the oil pump moving in a certain pattern under the drive of the wheel axle, drawing fuel from the fuel tank and pressurizing it to form high-pressure fuel.

Then, a mechanical governor is used to control the amount of fuel injection based on the engine speed and load, thereby achieving a better and simpler fuel atomization effect than a carburetor.

With the principles and concepts in place, creating a prototype becomes much easier.

With Fang Wen's personal involvement, small parts were manufactured using industrial machine tools and assembled into an oil pump structure with a rotating shaft.

Next is the mechanical speed controller.

This is rather troublesome.

It needs to be connected to the engine, and the fuel injection effect is achieved under different conditions by the engine speed.

This kind of structural transformation is the most difficult.

It's fair to say that even the chief designer of the engine might not be able to add such a purely mechanical speed measuring device to their inline engine.

But Fang Wen is different. When he activates his mechanical perception state, he becomes the strongest mechanic. He has a thorough understanding of the entire internal structure of the engine and can pre-construct in his mind how the mechanical speed controller will connect to the engine.

After some design work, he created a compact mechanical governor with different connections at the end. When the engine speed reaches a certain threshold, it will trigger the corresponding components and act on the internal flyweight. The centrifugal force of the flyweight will change, and then the injection time and amount of fuel will be controlled by the lever structure.

Thus, through his supernatural abilities, he designed and manufactured the second practical fuel injection device outside of Germany.

After testing, this device proved to be a good replacement for the carburetor.

It was precisely because of its emergence that the fuel combustion efficiency of this aircraft engine was greatly improved, thereby increasing the power by one-third on the original structure, reaching 1000 horsepower.

(End of this chapter)