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).
Testing a water-heated honeycomb radiator system for the 'Fury' aircraft to resolve high-altitude performance issues.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 179\2\ img149 | |
| Date | 9th January 1932 | |
| -2- Ha/Lov.{Mr Lovesey}3/KT.9.1.32. We showed them the J.F. system of water heated honeycomb radiators in the air intakes, and from their experience they feel that this is the scheme required. Sq/Ldr. McKenna is keen to try out this scheme on the "Fury" so that they can get on with their high altitude performance trials and will get it fully tested out for us at high altitudes, if we can get it fitted. He has reported to the Ministry that they cannot carry out the high altitude performance trials because of the "cutting out" trouble and for us to fit this scheme, which we think will overcome their trouble, we must first get Air Ministry permission. We shall, therefore, today, get in touch with Mr. Wood of the A.M. or Major Bulman - and in the meantime are making up a similar set of honeycomb intakes to those on the J.F. but modified in respect to the water feeds, so that it can fit into the "Fury". We do not regard our present scheme as that finally desired - we may be giving more heat than really necessary for the job, and we loose a little power at low altitudes - but we think it sufficiently urgent to use it in its present form to see if it overcomes the Martlesham trouble. At the same time we are working on the problem of finding the minimum heat we require and of reducing the restriction to breathing. We desire to use the minimum of heat so that it should not be necessary to cut it out in hot countries. This work will be done on the J.F. at Tollerton. While on the question of the operation of the heated intake scheme in hot countries, it appears possible we could combine in the outlet water pipe from the honeycombs, a simple form of bi-metal thermostat, so that when not much heat was taken out of the water - operating in hot air temps. and consequently the outlet water temps. would be high, the bi-metal strip could operate a baffle valve and cut down the water flow. There then would be no danger of freezing or overheating. We hope to have the radiators for test on the "Fury" ready about Tuesday and by then should have the Ministry permission to fit them. Ha/Lov.{Mr Lovesey} | ||