Development of Continuously Variable Intake Manifold for Formula Student Racing Engine

Abstract

After several years of research and development of Formula Student’s air mass flow restricted racing engine at the Internal Combustion Engines Department of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Belgrade, the design process of a new intake manifold for the 2014 competition season was set off. Through several seasons, the intake manifolds of the YAMAHA YZF-R6 high performance engine evolved from a dual volume, into a single volume concept and finally to the continuously variable intake manifold (CVIM) design. Comparative analysis of data obtained during in-laboratory engine testing and data logged from ECU during the races gave some guidelines in the design of CVIM. The main goal of this research is increasing the number of engine operating points with resonant supercharging. The Ricardo WAVE engine mathematical model is improved and particular attention is dedicated to the approximation of the adopted CVIM concept using Helmholtz Resonance Theory. This paper describes the correlation between optimal intake runner length and manifold volume over engine speed at wide open throttle as well as their influence on volumetric efficiency and engine effective parameters.