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).
Tests on using hydrogen to prime engines for easier starting.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 37\3\ scan 005 | |
| Date | 2nd October 1917 | |
| R.R. 238 A (770 H : S.D. 442. 9-8-17.) G 1965. To R.{Sir Henry Royce} from EH. Copy to BJ. " " E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} " " BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} EH2/LG2.10.17. 2nd.Oct: 1917. X.3190. PRIMING ENGINES WITH HYDROGEN FOR EASY STARTING. We have had Lieut: Carroll from the Air Board at the works, making tests with using hydrogen for priming the engine. The hydrogen was carried in a cylinder and transferred to a little balloon, when the cylinder was used up we used some hydrogen from our own plant. We simply connected the hydrogen gas bag up to our priming pipes. We tried some special pipes but found no improvement. As the result of these tests, we find that hydrogen is a great assistance for starting. It requires a little practice to obatin the best results, but one can practically guarantee to get the first explosion every time. It should be a very great boon in Winter. It will also evoid the risk there is with petrol of washing all the oil off the cylinder. It will not be possible to do away with the primer because one can never be sure of getting hydrogen in the event of a forced landing. EH. | ||