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By overboost
#439924
Renault is catching up to the rest by Canada with an HCCI upgrade:

http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/f1/f1s-power-secret/

"The buzz around the Formula 1 paddock about the heavily upgraded Renault engine set to debut in Canada is that it will feature the same trick combustion technology that is already believed to be employed by Mercedes, Ferrari and Honda.

Homogenous Charge Compression Ignition (HCCI) combines diesel-like compression ignition within a petrol-fired engine. But the latest F1 engines have not forsaken spark plugs. Rather they use a combination of compression (spontaneous) ignition with conventional spark-fired ignition, depending upon operating loads.

It is believed the dome of each piston has an extension in its centre, fitting into a recess within the combustion chamber. Within this ‘chamber within a chamber’ the mixture is compressed to the point of spontaneous ignition, but the main lower chamber features a spark plug for conventional spark-led ignition. It brings significant efficiency gains, allowing the knock limit to be considerably extended.

When in compression ignition mode, the ignited mixture in the small chamber ignites the mix in the bigger chamber as the piston falls. It means that only the mixture in the small chamber needs to be rich, allowing that in the lower chamber to be relatively weak. It gives greater power for the same fuel consumption or less fuel consumption for the same power. When in conventional spark plug mode either the upper chamber is not fed with fuel or the extension in the piston is a ‘plunger’ type that can be extended or withdrawn.

HCCI engines have been heavily researched by the road car industry – notably by GM, Mercedes and VW. They promise not only a better fuel economy/performance trade off but also much lower NOx emissions, because the higher temperatures created by the compression ignition produces less soot. But there has so far been no production engine using this technology. Controlling the spontaneous burn has proved extremely difficult.

But in combining the HCCI principle with part-time spark plug ignition, F1 has apparently perfected a hybrid version. A pure auto-ignition engine has a small power band – controlled at low revs by knock and at high revs by combustion chamber pressures. But perfecting the software to allow the advantages of HCCI principal at appropriate revs and loads, but switching to conventional ignition outside of those limits has proved feasible. The characteristic ‘misfire’ sound of the Honda on part throttle is believed to be the audible giveaway of the changeover point between the two modes. The effect can also be heard – but less aggressively – on the Ferrari. With the Mercedes however, there is no aural evidence. It’s believed the Mercedes engine has featured this technology from the start in 2014, that it was also incorporated into Honda’s first engine last year and that Ferrari adopted the technology last year. Renault would this be the last of the four manufacturers to introduce it.

Although details are sketchy at this point, it’s clear that this new technology has been a major part of the F1 power war in the hybrid turbo formula."
User avatar
By overboost
#439971
They say in this article that boost level will be reduced to equalize lap times. Does this mean that the Merc's and Ferrari engines will have their boost pressure levels turned down?

http://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/f1-co ... es-721036/
User avatar
By overboost
#440013
Ecclestone says that he will rip up the new agreement if there isn't an on track improvement from power convergence. Bernie is still threatening to bring back the V8's.

"The agreement was voted through by the F1 Commission last week, but Ecclestone said he was only really concerned with performance convergence.

"I didn't mind which way it went, it doesn't make any difference to us," he said. "The only thing was that we just wanted the engines to be equal."

Asked if he thought that would happen, he said: "Let's wait and see. If not, it will all be torn up and we will start again with a new set of regulations where the engines might be easier."


http://www.espn.co.uk/f1/story/_/id/154 ... -agreement
User avatar
By overboost
#440058
This demonstrates what is wrong with the current engine/fuel rules, McLaren/Honda putting it out there that fuel saving cost them 50 secs in Sochi. And Raikkonen's post race comments @37secs that he couldn't drive the car as fast as it would go at the because he had to save fuel.

Mercedes winning fuel mileage contests is not what F1 should be about imo. Of course Mercedes has forced the continuance the fuel restrictions for 2017 onward.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/formul ... llier.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eW8w4NAinPc
User avatar
By myownalias
#440061
It's interesting that Lewis Hamilton himself has spoken out about the current lift and coast mentality of driving and he benefits from the Mercedes fuel sipping power unit which suggests that their engine cant run flat out for the whole race. Some would suggest it has improved racing, but like KERS and DRS before it, it's artificial excitement, I prefer balls to the wall racing!
User avatar
By darwin dali
#440195
F1 ESPN:

Renault is preparing to bring its upgraded power unit to the Monaco Grand Prix, one race ahead of schedule.

After successful tests in Barcelona this week there were calls for Renault to introduce its Canada upgrade one race early. Renault's engine technical director Remi Taffin says the manufacturer will now bring as many of the upgraded power units as it can to Monte Carlo.

"The current power unit used since Australia has had several smaller upgrades and all the drivers were very happy with the standard in Spain," Taffin said. "In parallel, we've been working on the new spec since the start of the season but needed to sign off all the parts for reliability and mileage before using on track.

"The tests were very positive and showed it to be more powerful and driveable. We had originally planned to use the new version in Canada when the current units are scheduled to be removed from the cycle, but if we can get the units together and completely validated by Monaco we will use the ones available at this race."

According to Motorsport.com, the speedy introduction of the power unit means there will only be one available for Renault and Red Bull. It is unclear which driver will get it at either team, but if it is done by championship standings the new power units will go to Daniel Ricciardo and Kevin Magnussen.

Taffin is predicting a performance gain of half a second.

"The power unit we have used since the first race in Australia was really a continuation of the work started in the 'Spec D' power unit we introduced at the tail end of 2015. We explored some concepts in that earlier iteration and the 2016 unit took them further, for example in the turbo.

"This new spec goes even further down the line and also includes significant modifications to the combustion system. It will make the ICE more powerful but also efficient, leading to a gain of around half a second per lap. We've used a small proportion of our token allocation for this upgrade."
User avatar
By Stephen
#440203
power units will go to Daniel Ricciardo Max Verstappen and Kevin Magnussen.


If Helmut Marko has his wicked way... :wavey:
User avatar
By darwin dali
#440204
power units will go to Daniel Ricciardo Max Verstappen and Kevin Magnussen.


If Helmut Marko has his wicked way... :wavey:

:yes::twisted::P

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