[DeTomaso] Amazing Videos From SPA 2011 - Turbine Car?

[Daniel C Jones]

> With the time it take a turbine to spin up, how do/did they compensate for that in a race car that needs instant acceleration?

Ray Heppenstall's solution to the turbine spool up time for the Howmett
was to simply put a wastegate between the gas-generator and the power
turbines.  "The first third of throttle pedal movement controlled fuel
supply to the combustion chambers, and thus the speed of the engine.
But once spinning at its maximum 57,500 rpm and delivering full power,
the final two-thirds throttle movement activated the wastegate, thus
controlling the amount of gas directed to the power turbine, and hence
the rear wheels."  I forget if it was Pratt or GE, but one of them did
something similar for the McDonnel/Northrop NATF prototype engine to
improve carrier suitability.  They kept the turbine spooled up but
spoiled the thrust by the use of variable rotors/stators and also opening
up the nozzle throat area.

> What sort of a transmission/power conversion system did they use?

Single speed transmission with an electric motor for reverse.

Dan Jones

On Thu, Dec 26, 2013 at 11:07 AM, Mike Thomas <mbefthomas at comcast.net> wrote:
> With the time it take a turbine to spin up, how do/did they compensate for
> that in a race car that needs instant acceleration?  What sort of a
> transmission/power conversion system did they use?
>
> Mike T.
>
>
>
> From: Mike Drew [mailto:MikeLDrew at aol.com]
> Sent: Tuesday, December 24, 2013 5:01 PM
> To: Mike Thomas
> Cc: <DtomasoCat at aol.com>; <detomaso at poca.com>
> Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] Amazing Videos From SPA 2011 - Turbine Car?
>
>
>
> At Le Mans Classic I stood right next to ithe Howmet while mechanics started
> it up with the rear end up on jack stands, then ran it at full throttle.
> Watching the rear wheels spinning at 200 mph with people all around was
> amazing. If it had fallen off the jack stands the result would have been
> carnage! It sure sounded great though!
>
>
>
> Mike
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>
> On Dec 24, 2013, at 16:26, "Mike Thomas" <mbefthomas at comcast.net> wrote:
>
> Great video.  What does anyone know about the car that appears to be turbine
> powered.  It’s white car, coupe, has three huge exhaust stacks coming out
> the back, two very large intakes on the roof, and shrill whistle sound to
> it.  I didn’t realize they had run turbine prototypes at Le Mans, etc., but
> it makes sense as that was the same period that the turbine cars ran at Indy
> (late ‘60’s).
>
>
>
> Thanks
>
> Mike Thomas
>
>
>
> From: DeTomaso [mailto:detomaso-bounces at poca.com] On Behalf Of
> DtomasoCat at aol.com
> Sent: Sunday, December 22, 2013 9:01 AM
> To: detomaso at poca.com
> Subject: [DeTomaso] Amazing Videos From SPA 2011
>
>
>
> I just happened across this video taken at SPA in 2011.  Not much Pantera
> action (for some reason) but the sights and sounds are really something that
> I knew you would all enjoy.  There are many more videos shown from the
> company called MPZ which show in car footage of the race cars.  Haven't seen
> them all but plan on it!
>
>
>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4N-HaHgkcu4
>
>
>
> Enjoy!
>
>
>
> Jim
>
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