- 12 Dec 07, 14:23#26956
Here an an article concerning the way Ferrari heat's their tire's:
SPEEDtv.com EXCLUSIVE: F1, Racecar Engineering--Secrets of the F2007
Written by: SPEED Channel staff
Charlotte, North Carolina – 11/2/2007
By Charles Armstrong-Wilson, Sam Collins & Barbara Stanley Borras, RACECAR ENGINEERING MAGAZINE
ON THE GAS...
One of the most talked-about elements of the McLaren spy case was a special gas used by Ferrari in its tyres – in particular, an incriminating email from McLaren test driver Pedro De La Rosa to lead driver Fernando Alonso that revealed that the gas reduced the internal temperature and blistering.
In the email De La Rosa is quoted as saying ‘we’ll have to try it, it’s easy!’ Racing tyres are typically filled with air or, in more professional series like Formula 1, Nitrogen. But in an email from Alonso to De La Rosa he states it is ‘very important’ that McLaren test the gas that Ferrari uses in its tyres as ‘they have something different from the rest.’ He follows this up with ‘not only this year.
There is something else and this may be the key. Let’s hope we can test it during this test, and that we can make it a priority!’ It has been widely reported that the gas used by Ferrari was carbon dioxide and, whilst this is partially correct, it’s not the whole story.
Contrary to those that refused to believe alternate tire gasses could have a genuine impact on performance, Ferrari indeed developed an innovative solution. (For a revealing of all of the test results, purchase the December issue of Racecar Engineering.)
In fact, the gas used by Ferrari is a hydrofluorocarbon (HFC)-based mixture designed specifically for use in racecar tyres, though not dissimilar in composition to gasses used in refrigerators, which are comprised entirely of hydrogen, carbon and fluorine.
A team headed by Andrea Seghezzi of Monza, Italy, in association with Gruppo Sapio developed the gas and subjected it to extensive track testing.
It was discovered that the HFCs were able to effectively conduct the heat generated during the rotation of the tyre to the wheel rim at a more or less constant pressure. The wheel rim then acts as a radiator, exchanging the heat with the outside air, maintaining a lower internal temperature and preventing it from overheating. This is particularly effective on aluminium or magnesium wheels.
Racing rubber inflated with air also suffers from the effects of some internal chemical interactions, which damage the structure of the tyre, and can result in a sudden drop in performance. Due to the high capacity for heat transfer, tyres inflated with the new gas mixture achieve excellent longevity, since the temperature of the tyre is kept low and the pressure is constant.
After extensive tyre testing the best blend of HFCs was found to be 52 per cent Tetrafluoroethane, 44 per cent Pentafluoroethane and four per cent Trifluoroethane. This mixture, known as HFC R404 A, was found to be most effective in a racing tyre when it was inflated with a blend of 50 per cent HFC R404 A and 50 per cent CO2.
The use of refrigerant gas to cool the tires and radiate heat away from the carcass through the wheel is but one of many secrets McLaren was privy to.
The use of this new gas mix for tyres has implications far beyond Formula 1, of course, as using it allows teams to run softer compounds for longer, or to work the tyres harder.
It could also be that there will be worthwhile benefits in races run over longer distances, like NASCAR or Le Mans.
The court case continued without revealing the precise details of HFC R404 A, but it transpires that, despite the encouragement of the drivers, a Bridgestone engineer doubted whether the gas mixture would be effective if used on the McLaren MP4/22. However, it is thought that the McLaren drivers were not fully aware of the gas mix, rather they only knew of the CO2 element.
SPEEDtv.com EXCLUSIVE: F1, Racecar Engineering--Secrets of the F2007
Written by: SPEED Channel staff
Charlotte, North Carolina – 11/2/2007
By Charles Armstrong-Wilson, Sam Collins & Barbara Stanley Borras, RACECAR ENGINEERING MAGAZINE
ON THE GAS...
One of the most talked-about elements of the McLaren spy case was a special gas used by Ferrari in its tyres – in particular, an incriminating email from McLaren test driver Pedro De La Rosa to lead driver Fernando Alonso that revealed that the gas reduced the internal temperature and blistering.
In the email De La Rosa is quoted as saying ‘we’ll have to try it, it’s easy!’ Racing tyres are typically filled with air or, in more professional series like Formula 1, Nitrogen. But in an email from Alonso to De La Rosa he states it is ‘very important’ that McLaren test the gas that Ferrari uses in its tyres as ‘they have something different from the rest.’ He follows this up with ‘not only this year.
There is something else and this may be the key. Let’s hope we can test it during this test, and that we can make it a priority!’ It has been widely reported that the gas used by Ferrari was carbon dioxide and, whilst this is partially correct, it’s not the whole story.
Contrary to those that refused to believe alternate tire gasses could have a genuine impact on performance, Ferrari indeed developed an innovative solution. (For a revealing of all of the test results, purchase the December issue of Racecar Engineering.)
In fact, the gas used by Ferrari is a hydrofluorocarbon (HFC)-based mixture designed specifically for use in racecar tyres, though not dissimilar in composition to gasses used in refrigerators, which are comprised entirely of hydrogen, carbon and fluorine.
A team headed by Andrea Seghezzi of Monza, Italy, in association with Gruppo Sapio developed the gas and subjected it to extensive track testing.
It was discovered that the HFCs were able to effectively conduct the heat generated during the rotation of the tyre to the wheel rim at a more or less constant pressure. The wheel rim then acts as a radiator, exchanging the heat with the outside air, maintaining a lower internal temperature and preventing it from overheating. This is particularly effective on aluminium or magnesium wheels.
Racing rubber inflated with air also suffers from the effects of some internal chemical interactions, which damage the structure of the tyre, and can result in a sudden drop in performance. Due to the high capacity for heat transfer, tyres inflated with the new gas mixture achieve excellent longevity, since the temperature of the tyre is kept low and the pressure is constant.
After extensive tyre testing the best blend of HFCs was found to be 52 per cent Tetrafluoroethane, 44 per cent Pentafluoroethane and four per cent Trifluoroethane. This mixture, known as HFC R404 A, was found to be most effective in a racing tyre when it was inflated with a blend of 50 per cent HFC R404 A and 50 per cent CO2.
The use of refrigerant gas to cool the tires and radiate heat away from the carcass through the wheel is but one of many secrets McLaren was privy to.
The use of this new gas mix for tyres has implications far beyond Formula 1, of course, as using it allows teams to run softer compounds for longer, or to work the tyres harder.
It could also be that there will be worthwhile benefits in races run over longer distances, like NASCAR or Le Mans.
The court case continued without revealing the precise details of HFC R404 A, but it transpires that, despite the encouragement of the drivers, a Bridgestone engineer doubted whether the gas mixture would be effective if used on the McLaren MP4/22. However, it is thought that the McLaren drivers were not fully aware of the gas mix, rather they only knew of the CO2 element.
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