Republic of China: Ace Pilot

Chapter 452, page 448: The Improved Shiro Aircraft Engine, Yoshida's Secret Telegram, Poison Gas Bomb
The advent of the fuel injection system enabled Taishan Aviation Engine Factory to successfully solve the power deficiency of the Hispano-Suiza 12X V12 liquid-cooled engine, increasing the original power by 30%, from 700 horsepower to 1000 horsepower.

This is a huge technological breakthrough, achieved without altering the original structure and core technology.

It can be said that Fang Wen enabled Hispano-Suiza's aircraft engine technology to gradually overcome its technical shortcomings and approach the level of the top-tier companies like Rolls-Royce and Mercedes-Benz.

But Hispano-Suiza's aircraft engine technology deficiencies do not stop there.

There are other issues that Fang Wen needs to address.

Only by solving all the problems can Fang Wen use this as a foundation to create a V12 liquid-cooled engine with his own technology.

Therefore, Fang Wen did not stop his research and continued.

The next technical challenge to overcome is the engine's turbocharger.

The Hispano-Suiza 12X V12 liquid-cooled engine currently uses a single-speed centrifugal turbocharger.

This thing works by being driven by a belt connected to the engine bearing.

The implementation process is as follows:

The gas to be pressurized enters the booster through the inlet and is introduced into the central region of the impeller.

The impeller is driven to rotate at high speed by the engine crankshaft through a transmission device such as a belt, generating a strong centrifugal force that pushes the gas from the center of the impeller to the edge. In this process, the gas gains kinetic energy and its speed increases significantly.

The accelerated flow of gas enters the diffuser, which is a set of fixed blades surrounding the impeller. When the gas encounters these blades, its speed gradually decreases.

In this process, the kinetic energy of the gas is converted into pressure energy, thereby increasing the pressure.

Finally, the compressed gas is guided through the volute to the exhaust port, and then delivered to the engine's intake manifold to enter the cylinder and participate in combustion to do power.

The term "single speed" here refers to the fact that the transmission ratio between the turbocharger's centrifugal blades and the engine shaft is fixed.

Fang Wen used his special ability to determine that the problem lay here.

Because of the fixed transmission ratio, the speed of the centrifugal impeller of a single-speed centrifugal turbocharger is in a fixed proportional relationship with the speed of the engine crankshaft when the engine is running. Regardless of the engine's operating conditions, the turbocharger operates at a relatively fixed speed ratio.

Therefore, it is unable to cope with the complex situations that an aircraft faces during flight.

If the single-speed mode is changed to a dual-speed mode, it is possible to switch between low-speed and high-speed modes according to different states such as flight altitude and speed, so as to better adapt to the boost demand under different conditions.

Therefore, Fang Wen's next modification will focus on the centrifugal intensifier.

He already had a blueprint in mind.

The transmission structure needs to be modified, which can be achieved by replacing it with a gearbox that has a switchable transmission ratio.

Simply put, it involves installing a gearbox with two speed settings (high and low). Under different operating conditions, the gears are switched mechanically to allow the turbocharger impeller to operate at different speeds, thus adapting to the engine's varying boost pressure requirements under different loads and speeds.

At the same time, the existing intake and exhaust pipes also need to be modified to cope with the changes in airflow and air pressure caused by the dual speeds.

In addition, parameters such as fuel injection strategy and ignition timing also change and need to be corrected to ensure that the engine can maintain good performance in dual-speed turbo mode, while avoiding problems such as knocking and overheating.

This is a systemic overhaul project, which even involves modifying the existing fuel injection system.

In the age of computers, engineers could solve problems by using computers to perform high-speed calculations and build data models.

But now, it is almost impossible to complete in a short period of time.

Besides Fang Wen.

He also spent a lot of energy to achieve this.

It's not just about using supernatural abilities to repeatedly explore, but also about using mental power to construct it in the mind.

Then, the engineers were asked to use calculators produced by Taishan Semiconductor Factory that were not yet available for sale to calculate the data one by one.

That's really tiring!

Even he, after completing the entire architecture design, slept all night to replenish his depleted energy.

After a full night's sleep and replenishing his energy, he began modifying the dual-speed centrifugal intensifier with renewed vigor.

The successful modification of this device did not cause the engine performance to surge again, but it made the controllability smoother than before.

According to Fang Wenxin's estimate, it improved the aircraft's maneuverability by at least 20%.

Following the modifications to the fuel injection system and the dual-speed centrifugal turbocharger, Fang Wen also tackled the challenge of improving the liquid cooling system of the V12 engine.

The liquid cooling system mainly consists of coolant, and each aircraft engine company has a different formula for its liquid cooling coolant.

Hispano-Suiza's coolant formula is clearly problematic.

However, when Fang Wen was developing the Xuanming type, he independently developed a coolant that would not solidify at an altitude of 6000-7000 meters.

Using this type of coolant as a replacement is a good option.

After these modifications, the Hispano-Suiza 12X V12 liquid-cooled engine was completely transformed.

Now, it can be considered a new generation model.

Fang Wen decided to name it "Xiluo Improved Model".

He was not very satisfied with this model.

However, the current production line is designed for this model, and we do not yet have the conditions to manufacture entirely new engines.

Therefore, Fang Wen could only temporarily produce the "Shiro Improved" for the new aircraft's power.

But he has his own methods for the entire production process and how to keep it secret.

That is, the same method used by Taishan Aircraft Manufacturing Plant.

The modified process was modularized, with each engineering team responsible for a single process technology, and even the final assembly was handled by a separate workshop.

In this way, if anyone other than him wanted to fully grasp the secrets of the entire process system, they would have to gather all the engineers in the entire aero-engine factory and have them write down the parts of the process technology they had mastered.

time flies.

A month flew by, and September arrived in the blink of an eye.

The first batch of five "Xiluo Improved" aero engines from Taishan Aero Engine Factory were completed and rolled off the production line.

This engine, which has been modified by Fang Wen in many ways, has increased its power to 1000 horsepower and increased its optimal boost altitude from 4500 meters to 7000 meters. Because some of the engine's structure has been replaced with high-temperature resistant alloy plates, its weight has actually been reduced from 370 kilograms to 320 kilograms.

It can now fully replace the Pratt & Whitney 1830 as the engine for the new Taishan military aircraft.

Fang Wen, who had been in a closed factory for a month, announced with a smile: "The whole factory is on holiday for two days. Everyone should take a break."

The engineers and technicians at the aircraft engine plant cheered. After a month of intense work, they felt a great sense of accomplishment but were also exhausted and needed to relax.

Immediately afterwards, these engineering and technical personnel returned to their dormitories, took off their oil-stained work clothes, changed into casual clothes, and left Taishan Industrial Park in groups to relax.

Fang Wen was also leaving. Before leaving the factory, he instructed the factory security guards to pay attention to security, and then drove away in his own car.

After leaving the industrial park, the car headed straight for the headquarters building of Taishan Airlines. After parking in the backyard, Fang Wen took the elevator to the top floor.

Inside the residence, Wu Ma and Chuncao were present. Upon seeing Fang Wen enter the room, they quickly stood up.

Looking at Fang Wen, Wu Ma couldn't help but complain, "Young master, you haven't seen me for a month. Why is your hair so messy? And you haven't shaved in ages either."

Chuncao came over to get Fang Wen's shoes and smelled the odor on him: "You smell strongly of gasoline."

As Fang Wen put on his shoes, he replied, "It took me a month to finish. Aunt Wu, boil some water, I want to take a bath."

“A little is definitely not enough, I’ll go cook more,” Aunt Wu commented before walking into the kitchen.

The top floor was Fang Wen's residence. The kitchen had a large chimney and a pile of chopped firewood for Wu Ma to cook and boil water. Fang Wen changed his shoes and said, "Chuncao, tell Madam I'm back."

"Okay, son-in-law, I'll go right away." Chuncao covered her nose and went out.

Fang Wen looked at his messy hair and stubble in front of the full-length mirror and couldn't help but chuckle to himself. He had really been quite slovenly for the past month.

Not only him, but everyone in the factory worked hard for a month and produced a new type of aircraft engine, which can be considered a small industrial miracle.

He sat in the rattan chair in the living room, picked up the sliced ​​mangoes on the coffee table in front of him, and leaned back leisurely.

The rare moment of relaxation allowed him to drift into daydreams.

If there had been no war, I might have been able to make more changes to the world.

Too much is too much.

But things are not bad now. After driving out the Japanese, it is estimated that semiconductor technology will be able to reach a higher level, and jet engines will probably be developed as well. At that time, Taishan will be a leading high-tech enterprise in the world.

Just then, the door opened, and Kuang Mingzhu returned.

After not seeing her for a month, Kuang Mingzhu was full of concern: "What happened to you? This is the first time I've seen you so unkempt."

"The new engine has been successfully developed," Fang Wen replied.

Kuang Mingzhu, the deputy general manager of Taishan Airlines, was well aware of the importance of this technology and was pleasantly surprised: "That's great! Does that mean our new fighter jet is coming out soon?"

"Soon," Fang Wen replied with a smile. The engine is currently the only weak point of the Taishan fighter jet. Once this component is mastered, the others will be no problem for him.

Fang Wen and Kuang Mingzhu then talked about what had happened this month.

By now, all 10 gunboats and 30 Eighth Route Army flight cadets have returned to China.

Taishan Airlines is operating normally.

In addition, Kuang Mingzhu also brought a stack of untranslated coded telegrams.

They were all intelligence telegrams, some from Fuping and others from the Taishan intelligence station in Shanghai.

Fang Wen picked up the document and began translating it directly.

The current situation in China is roughly as follows: widespread development.

In the guerrilla warfare north of the Yellow River, the Jin-Cha-Ji base area launched attacks from multiple directions, relying on new weapons and the tactical effects of the Taishan walkie-talkie, truly achieving unpredictable and elusive tactics.

At the same time, the Taishan individual rocket launcher has also become the best weapon for attacking fortified positions.

This weapon, which requires only two operators and can penetrate armor to attack tanks, bunkers, and armored vehicles within a 200-meter range, has destroyed several Japanese tanks and damaged many pillboxes built by the Japanese army on the North China Plain.

This thwarted the Japanese army's original plan to use pillboxes, small Japanese detachments, and puppet troops as strongholds to divide and erode the anti-Japanese forces.

The elusive guerrilla unit behind enemy lines, armed with new grenade launchers and individual rocket launchers, easily breached the defenses of the pillboxes, forcing the Japanese army to withdraw from some remote pillboxes and regroup in the county town.

Upon seeing this, Fang Wen smiled; the power of the military industry was as effective as he had predicted.

Of course, the effects also depend on who wields the new weapons.

He continued to read.

The operations behind enemy lines north of the Yellow River have been victorious one after another.

Numerous uprisings also broke out in the occupied areas of eastern Hebei.

The New Fourth Army was divided into several detachments to carry out guerrilla warfare behind enemy lines south of the Yangtze River, during which they captured Jurong County near Nanjing.

In Wuhan, the Japanese army dispatched multiple bombing raids, which were intercepted by the Nationalist Air Force and Soviet air force.

During the same period, the Nationalist Air Force also launched multiple air raids on Japanese military airfields and warships.

In these air battles, they gained certain advantages, but also suffered continuous losses.

The number of combat-ready aircraft and pilots in the National Air Force has decreased significantly compared to last year.

Meanwhile, the Japanese army was constantly replenishing its lost warplanes by relying on domestic production capacity.

As one side gains at the expense of the other, the Nationalist Air Force becomes increasingly weak.

Even with the support of the Soviet air force and other aid, the gap between them and the Japanese warplanes was widening.

Fang Wen admires these aerial heroes.

It is truly remarkable that they have managed to persist until now, despite the rampant embezzlement and misappropriation of military resources by those in power.

They are also making their own efforts and sacrifices for this country.

As a fellow pilot, Fang Wen felt the same way.

He prayed for the soldiers who sacrificed their lives for their country.

After finishing his prayers, Fang Wen opened the last stack of telegrams.

The first part is the latest intelligence summary from the Shanghai intelligence station.

Of all this intelligence, the most important was a report on the war between Japan and the Soviet Union.

Beginning in mid-July, the Japanese and Soviet armies fought fiercely over key military strategic points in the lower reaches of the Tumen River, particularly around Zhanggufeng.

This information was not in Fang Wen's future memories.

But he vaguely sensed that it contained a special meaning.

He saw that, in mid-August, the military conflict had actually ended.

The Soviet army did not launch a further offensive.

Fang Wen immediately understood the implied meaning.

He recalled the massive military fortress he had discovered on the border during a previous night flight through Northeast China.

Those were permanent military fortifications built by the Japanese specifically to guard against a Soviet attack on Northeast China.

But now, with the conflict on the Tumen River, the Soviet Union has made it clear that they will not further interfere with the Japanese interests in Northeast China.

That means the threat to the rear that the Japanese were worried about has disappeared, and they can send more military forces to fight in China.

It seems the intensity of the upcoming battles is about to increase.

Fang Wen's mood became heavy.

He opened the last document, only to find it was a coded message sent from a special frequency.

A one-way communication known only to him, a call from Yoshida, a pawn of the Japanese Navy Headquarters.

This hidden pawn sends out useful and important intelligence every now and then. What will it be this time?

Fang Wen translated the coded telegram.

[Recently, during a dinner with colleagues from the Army Headquarters, I learned that Chief of the General Staff, Prince Kan'in Kotohito, issued an order in the name of the Emperor to the Central China Expeditionary Army authorizing the use of poison gas. This order allows the Central China combat troops to use four types of poison gas shells without restriction: red, brown, green, and yellow.]

Poison gas!
Fang Wen's expression was solemn. What he hated most was that the Japanese used Chinese people for experiments and then developed poison gas bombs for use in the war.

This must be stopped, just like the Japanese military laboratory that was destroyed before the full-scale war of resistance. We must destroy every Japanese laboratory we find, without any mercy.

Therefore, he needs to contact Yoshida by phone to understand more about the situation in order to take appropriate measures.

(End of this chapter)