Camshaft Design for an Inlet-Restricted FSAE Engine

摘要

Restricting the flow rate of air to the intake manifold is a convenient and popular method used by several motor sport disciplines to regulate engine performance. This principle is applied in the Formula SAE and Formula Student competitions, the rules of which stipulate that all the air entering the engine must pass though a 20 mm diameter orifice. The restriction acts as a partially closed throttle which generates a vacuum in the inlet plenum. During the valve overlap period of the cycle, which may be as much as 100 degrees crank angle in the motorcycle engines used by most FSAE competitors, this vacuum causes reverse flow of exhaust gas into the intake runners. This, in turn, reduces the amount of fresh air entering the cylinder during the subsequent intake stroke and therefore reduces the torque produced. This effect is particularly noticeable at medium engine speeds when the time available for reverse flow is greater than at the peak torque speed.