Development of a 430cc Constant Power Engine for FSAE Competition 2006-01-0745

This paper describes the design and development of an engine with constant power for SAE's student Formula race-car competition, allowing the avoidance of gear shifting for much of the Autocross event. To achieve constant power for over 50% of the speed range, turbocharging was adopted with a boost pressure ratio of 2.8 at mid-range speeds and applied to an engine capacity of 430 cc. This engine was specifically designed and configured for the purpose, being a twin cylinder in-line arrangement with double overhead camshafts. Most of the engine components were specially cast or machined from billets. The capacity was selected to minimise frictional losses and thus increase delivered power along with dry sump lubrication and a three speed gear box. The engine manifolds and plenums were designed using a CAE application and proved to be well suited to the task resulting in excellent agreement between predicted and actual performance. One of the major challenges of the experimental development was overcoming the turbocharger oil consumption under throttled operation at part load conditions and at full power when the FSAE restrictor is choked. For the 2004 Australian competition the engine was run with slightly reduced mid speed power to avoid excessive use of the traction control system and was very competitive finishing first in the fuel economy event.