The exhaust of your plane is an integral part of your aircraft, as the power, fuel efficiency and performance of your aircraft are influenced by its exhaust system. That is why no airplane owner should ever compromise on the design, quality and maintenance of their aircraft’s exhaust system.
The whole performance of your aircraft depends on its exhaust system therefore you should hire a professional aviation welding technician for its maintenance.
Also Read: How Does An Aircraft Exhaust System Affect Engine Performance?
Many people, in order to increase the efficiency of their aircraft's engine, tune their exhaust system. Tuned exhaust systems are used in aircraft piston engines to improve their performance.
So, if you want to improve the overall performance, efficiency and power of your aircraft’s engine then you should install a tuned exhaust system. But in order to understand its working, you first need to know the difference between a traditional and tuned engine.
In this blog post, we will talk in detail about how you can use a tuned exhaust system to improve your aircraft’s engine performance.
Regular Combustion Engine
During the combustion process the aircraft’s exhaust system goes through four strokes:
- Intake
- Compression
- Combustion
- Exhaust strokes
The intake valve is located on the top of the cylinder. Hence, during the intake stroke, the piston moves up and down the cylinder to collect fuel-air mixture through the open intake valve.
After sucking the new mixture the intake valve closes and the piston of your engine goes back to its original position. All of this movement compresses the fuel-air mixture and this causes a spark in the plug that ignites and explodes the compressed fuel-air mixture.
This explosion moves the piston down the cylinder and provides the necessary power that is needed to turn on your engine. In the end, the exhaust valve opens as the piston of your engine moves and then the whole cycle starts all over.
Difference Between Tuned And Traditional Exhaust System
Initially, tuned exhaust systems were designed to remove gases from the cylinder of an airplane engine. But over time trained aviation welding technicians added heating and muffle systems in the tuned exhaust system.
On the other hand, a traditional exhaust system works fine but there is still a lot of room for improvement.
For example, in the standard design of a traditional exhaust system, only 80% of the cylinder is emptied while the rest 20% goes to waste.
Whereas a tuned exhaust system makes sure that all the gases from the cylinder evacuates properly and nothing goes to waste. Hence a tuned exhaust system is better at removing gases from the cylinder as compared to a traditional exhaust system.
Advantages Of A Tuned Exhaust System
Here are some of the advantages of a tuned exhaust system:
- A tuned exhaust system allows an airplane engine to clear out the cylinder more efficiently. It also saves a lot of gas which in other systems are wasted just to create inertia.
- Moreover, the engine also enjoys more efficient fuel burn. This enables the aircraft to reach a higher RPM or travel more distance with the same fuel consumption compared to a traditional exhaust system.
- However, since most of the gasses escape from the cylinder, the temperature at the collector is high as compared to the traditional exhaust system.
How To Maintain An Aircraft With A Tuned Exhaust
- If your aircraft engine has a tuned exhaust system then you should closely inspect the engine's cowling, control cables and other similar components.
- Also pay close attention to the external surfaces of your engine, closely check them for cracks, dents and signs of wear and tear.
- Similarly check the lead, flexible air ducts, fuel lines and hoses for signs of wear and tear and put a heat shield around them.
- Lastly, you should keep your exhaust system in good working condition and frequently get it inspected by professional aviation welding technicians.
About Acorn Welding
Acorn Welding has been in the aircraft welding and maintenance industry for years. Our professionals have years of experience in aviation welding and maintenance that keep your aircraft in perfect condition.
We follow all the safety rules and procedures to prevent any hazards during the maintenance process. Apart from this, we also offer aircraft parts. We are a one-stop shop for engine mounts and other related parts and offer high-quality aircraft welding services. We deliver nothing but the most precise services for aircraft welding. To get in touch with us, click here.
