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From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).
Request for engine performance data regarding the effect of fuel anti-knock values on b.m.e.p. for a paper.

Identifier  ExFiles\Box 27a\4\  Scan198
Date  4th September 1933
  
CABLEGRAMS:
ETHYLPORT, LONDON.

TELEGRAMS:
ETHYLPORT, CHURTON.

ETHYL EXPORT CORPORATION
incorporated in the State of Delaware, U.S.A. with limited liability.
ABFORD HOUSE, VICTORIA
LONDON, S.W.1

Telephone:
VICTORIA 5520

Head Office:
135 EAST 42ND STREET
NEW YORK, U.S.A

PERSONAL.

4th September, 1933.

E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} W. Hives, Esq.,
Rolls Royce Ltd.,
Nightingale Road,
DERBY.

Dear Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair},

I am writing a paper to be read before the Royal Aeronautical Society during the coming "silly season".

This paper will be an endeavour to deal with the question of Ethyl fuels in a fairly comprehensive manner.

If I can get agreement from my Corporation, I shall mention the general troubles and methods of effecting their cure when using "leaded" fuels on high output engines. I have also included general information on such subjects as Stelliting, etc.

I wanted to know whether you had any curves you could let me have showing the effect of raising the anti-knock value on the b.m.e.p. of an aero engine.

For instance, I think I am correct in assuming that a blown Kestrel engine (I cannot remember the particular type), will be rated at about 480-500 b.h.p. at 11,500 ft and in any case can only give this power when using D.T.D. 134 of 75.5-76 Octane. Now if a fuel of about 90 Octane is used, i.e. D.T.D. 134 plus about 4 or 5 c.c.'s of "lead" you can obtain full throttle operation and the engine will develop roughly 900 b.h.p. at 2150

What I really want is two other points between these two points mentioned to get some idea of the relationship between Octane number and b.m.e.p.

I am enclosing herewith a small copy of a curve taken at the Wright Corporation's works in America, on, I believe, an air-cooled Cyclone engine. You will note that I have pencilled in the two points and connected them with a line which I think is a fair estimation of the results obtained on your engines, but I would like to be a little more definite before I put it in my paper.

I was wondering whether you could get Lovesey to dig me up something.

I would, naturally, make due acknowledgments in my paper to any "dope" received from you, or if you do not wish the firm mentioned, I would simply quote the curve as obtained from a "well-known British water cooled aero engine manufacturer" etc.

[Handwritten note in centre]
LOV{Mr Lovesey} See me Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}

[Handwritten note next to b.h.p. figure]
720
  
  


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