Bringing Italian Skies Down to the Earth
360099
01/01/1936
- Event
- Content
- THE Fiat high-altitude aircraft-engine testing-plant can duplicate quickly, conveniently and accurately any combination of atmospheric conditions that may be found in an imaginary vertical column of air rising from sea-level to more than 6 miles. To compare results, the output of an engine is measured in “standard air”, which is characterized by a definite pressure, temperature and humidity.The high-altitude testing-plant comprises the following:
-
(1)
An engine test-cell, with a volume of approximately 6000 cu. ft., which is thermally insulated and airtight.
-
(2)
The refrigerating plant, which comprises a refrigerating machine, the cooling surfaces which absorb heat from the air enclosed in the test-chamber, the air fed to the carburetor of the engine, and the exhaust gases flowing from the engine.
-
(3)
An air-pressure-reduction plant which includes a turbo-blower, an automatic altitude-regulator and an exhaust-gas cooler.
-
(4)
The artificial-wind plant which can supply up to a wind speed of 100 m.p.h. at a pressure corresponding to an altitude of 16,300 ft.
-
(5)
The apparatus for humidifying the engine intake-air.
-
(6)
The engine-test apparatus; hydraulic and electric power-brakes are used. The apparatus makes it possible to check the oil and the fuel consumption, and the water temperature at the inlet and outlet of the engine.
-
(7)
The central control-board was laid out so that the operator always has the entire test-plant under full observation and control.
The Fiat high-altitude testing-plant is the result of a long series of experiments and research work. -
(1)
- Pages
- 14
- Citation
- Merriman, M., "Bringing Italian Skies Down to the Earth," SAE Technical Paper 360099, 1936, https://doi.org/10.4271/360099.