Fuel - Revision history

SpookySimon: /* How it's scored at comp */

2025-05-19T19:39:01Z

How it's scored at comp

SpookySimon: /* Port Fuel Injection */

2025-05-19T18:58:33Z

Port Fuel Injection

Satiric: Make a column smaller

2023-10-18T23:10:09Z

Make a column smaller

SpookySimon: /* Fuel Strategy */

2023-02-22T17:26:18Z

Fuel Strategy

SpookySimon: /* Firewall */ no need for this section in fuel

2023-02-21T17:53:44Z

Firewall: no need for this section in fuel

SpookySimon: /* Bladder */

2023-02-21T17:51:51Z

Bladder

SpookySimon: /* Fuel Sloshing */ foam baffling

2023-02-21T17:50:47Z

Fuel Sloshing: foam baffling

SpookySimon: /* Bladder */ bullets to words

2023-02-21T17:47:58Z

Bladder: bullets to words

SpookySimon: /* Rigid Container */

2023-02-21T17:44:11Z

Rigid Container

SpookySimon: /* Rigid Container */ bullets to words

2023-02-21T17:43:44Z

Rigid Container: bullets to words

@@ Line 301: / Line 301: @@
 ==How it's scored at comp==
 [[File:ImpactofFuelUsageinCompetitionbyType.png|thumb|right|Points per L Fuel used in 2021 Michigan Competition]]
 Since FSAE and FS considers how much fuel is used as well as how fast each car goes, the cost of fuel in terms of competition score must be considered. There are many ways to analyze the impact of the fuel usage on the competition score.
@@ Line 308: / Line 310: @@
 {{clear}}
 <!--[[Fuel Competition Strategy]] -Emily wants own page for comp strat-->
 ==Fuel Choice==
 One of the biggest choices fueling system design engineers must make is which fuel to run. Teams with limited resources may find that cost and/or convenience may outweigh all other design considerations. Proper documentation and explanation of these restrictions will prevent this concession to real world conditions from being counted against a team in the design event.

@@ Line 283: / Line 283: @@
 Fuel Injected into the [[Intake|ports]] or multipoint manifold injection just before entering the combustion chamber. The most common type of fuel injection in FSAE, port injection offers high levels of control at a lower cost than DI.
 <!--Usually leads to well mixed charge [citation needed]-->
 ====Direct Fuel Injection====
 <!--big boys do this [citation needed]-->

@@ Line 87: / Line 87: @@
 <!--!|Cost [$/foot]-->
 !|Weight [lb/ft]
-!|Min Bend Radius<ref> Minimum Bend Radius for hardlines is considered to be 2*D if drawn and 7*D if rolled. This is a rule of thumb, YMMV https://www.listertube.com/links/tube-bending-design-guide/</ref> [in]<br />
+!|Min. Bend
 !|Supplier
 !|Notes

@@ Line 296: / Line 296: @@
 =Fuel Strategy=
 ==How it's scored at comp==
-* [[Fuel Competition Strategy]] -Emily wants own page for comp strat
+[[File:ImpactofFuelUsageinCompetitionbyType.png|thumb|right|Points per L Fuel used in 2021 Michigan Competition]]
 Since FSAE and FS considers how much fuel is used as well as how fast each car goes, the cost of fuel in terms of competition score must be considered. There are many ways to analyze the impact of the fuel usage on the competition score.
 ==Fuel Choice==
-A simplistic, black box analysis is shown below using the 2021 Michigan Efficiency Event scores. With the points cost of fuel in hand, a team can prioritize efforts to become more efficient accordingly.
+One of the biggest choices fueling system design engineers must make is which fuel to run. Teams with limited resources may find that cost and/or convenience may outweigh all other design considerations. Proper documentation and explanation of these restrictions will prevent this concession to real world conditions from being counted against a team in the design event.
-[[File:ImpactofFuelUsageinCompetitionbyType.png|thumb|left|Points per L Fuel used in 2021 Michigan Competition]]
+The team must decide whether or not to pursue running E85 before many other fuel system decisions. The octane rating of E85 lies around 100, but specific aspects of the fuel mean it is not a direct replacement. The largest difference is the specific energy. E85 has about 75% of the energy per unit mass that gasoline has<ref>https://dsportmag.com/the-tech/education/getting-tanked-the-e85-files-part-1/3/</ref> so the fuel tank will have to be bigger.
 ==Efficiency==

@@ Line 294: / Line 294: @@
 ==Critical Fasteners==
 All fasteners on the fuel system are critical. Nylon locking fasteners are not appropriate near the engine such as the fuel rail. The nylon will soften and will not retain the nut. Most technical inspectors will not catch this but it's a pain to change and better to just do it right the first time.
 =Fuel Strategy=
 ==How it's scored at comp==

@@ Line 73: / Line 73: @@
 ===Bladder===
-A fuel bladder is an alternative to a rigid fuel tank. The bladder will expand and contract with the quantity of fuel inside the tank, thus solving any sloshing or fuel pickup issues.
+A fuel bladder is an alternative to a rigid fuel tank. The bladder will expand and contract with the quantity of fuel inside the tank, with the intent of solving sloshing or fuel pickup issues.
 <!--just pour the gas in a kroger bag and let it flop in the wind /s<br /><br />-->

@@ Line 56: / Line 56: @@
 ===Fuel Sloshing===
 Similar to [[Oil|oil sloshing]], fuel will move around in the tank as the car goes around corners or accelerates/brakes. The design of the fuel tank should reduce this phenomenon. Each team will face different levels of sloshing and some may never encounter a problem. Generalized advice cannot really be furnished here except to consider it.
 An alternative to, or in addition to an internally baffled fuel tank is placing an absorbent mat at the bottom of the fuel tank connected to the fuel pickup. Anecdotal evidence indicates that a fuel mat like Holley's HydraMat seem to solve fuel pickup issues for teams of all levels<ref>This is from 3 years of talking to teams during tech inspection</ref>.

@@ Line 71: / Line 71: @@
 ===Bladder===
-just pour the gas in a kroger bag and let it flop in the wind /s<br /><br />must be enclosed by a non-flexible container that is rigidly connected to the chassis and may be load bearing
+A fuel bladder is an alternative to a rigid fuel tank. The bladder will expand and contract with the quantity of fuel inside the tank, thus solving any sloshing or fuel pickup issues.
 ==Fuel Lines==

@@ Line 60: / Line 60: @@
 ===Rigid Container===
-Most fuel tanks in FSAE are solid. The important considerations for rigid fuel tanks are mounting and material.<br>
+Most fuel tanks in FSAE are solid. The important considerations for rigid fuel tanks are mounting and material.
 '''Mounting'''<br>
-The most important mounting consideration is to ensure the vibration and torsional forces going through the frame cannot pass through the fuel tank. A stressed fuel tank may fracture and leak fuel. The easiest method to ensure no torsional forces can be transferred into the fuel tank is to only use three points for mounting<ref>This method is recommended by competition volunteers and tech inspectors for teams who fail tech due to this rule</ref>. If the fuel tank is attached by bolted connections, it is necessary to isolate the tank vibrationally. This can be achieved by inserting a rubber washer into the bolt/washer stackup between the frame and fuel tank. If rubber washers are used, ensure that the bolt is not tightened to the point that the connection becomes rigid again.<br>
+The most important mounting consideration is to ensure the vibration and torsional forces going through the frame cannot pass through the fuel tank. A stressed fuel tank may fracture and leak fuel. The easiest method to ensure no torsional forces can be transferred into the fuel tank is to only use three points for mounting<ref>This method is recommended by competition volunteers and tech inspectors for teams who fail tech due to this rule</ref>. If the fuel tank is attached by bolted connections, it is necessary to isolate the tank vibrationally. This can be achieved by inserting a rubber washer into the bolt/washer stackup between the frame and fuel tank. If rubber washers are used, ensure that the bolt is not tightened to the point that the connection becomes rigid again.
 '''Material'''<br>
 They can be made of sheet metal, or a gasoline resistant plastic or composite.