Difference between revisions of "Firewall"
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| − | The firewall is a | + | The '''firewall''' is a component that protects the driver from powertrain failures. The firewall is required by rule T.1.8 and T.1.9 in the FSAE rules and T 4.8 in the FS rules. |
| + | =Internal Combustion= | ||
| + | FSAE - The firewall must protect the driver against the [[Fuel|fuel supply]], [[Oil|oil]], [[Cooling|cooling lines]], and any lithium batteries. | ||
| + | ==Construction== | ||
| + | Most teams construct the firewall out of a layer of composite (usually carbon fiber) on top of a layer of "insulating" material. The specific sandwich panel material is less impactful for heat management to the driver compartment than the mandatory 1" of air gap between the exhaust and the firewall. There is almost no better insulator than air, and moving air is even better. Since the firewall cannot be touching the exhaust, most heat blocked by the firewall is in the form of IR radiation and is easily solved by applying a layer of reflective material. Commercial automotive solutions are available and often sponsor FSAE teams. In a pinch, aluminum tape can be used for this purpose. | ||
| − | == | + | The firewall must be sealed. Teams either accomplish this by implementing a rubber-like seal or gasket around the firewall to the cockpit or by taping across the gap between the firewall and the cockpit opening at competition. Because the firewall has to be removed during inspection, the tape will have to be re-applied. |
| − | + | ||
| − | + | ==Position== | |
| − | + | Since the firewall has to be between the driver and the engine, many teams use it to support the seat as a structural element of the cockpit. If the seat used for actual drivers is removable without removing the firewall, the firewall can be used as the "seat" for the Percy template during [[Scrutineering|tech inspection]], and the seat will be considered "padding". | |
| − | + | ||
| + | =EVs= | ||
| + | The EV firewall is subject to much more stringent rules. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Construction== | ||
| + | The firewall layer facing the tractive system must be a grounded layer of aluminum, FSAE removed the requirements in the 2024 season specifying that the firewall must be between 0.5mm and 0.7mm thick, and the layer facing the driver must be electrically insulating. The driver facing layer MUST not be made of [[Carbon_Fiber_Reinforced_Polymer|carbon fiber]], as it has unpredictable and non-zero conductive properties. Frequently, fiberglass is chosen as a substitute. Because the backing layer has to be a solid sheet of aluminum, a composite sandwich core is not necessary to obtain structural rigidity as it would be for an ICE firewall. | ||
[[Category:Internal Combustion]] | [[Category:Internal Combustion]] | ||
[[Category:Electric Vehicle]] | [[Category:Electric Vehicle]] | ||
Latest revision as of 16:01, 4 May 2024
The firewall is a component that protects the driver from powertrain failures. The firewall is required by rule T.1.8 and T.1.9 in the FSAE rules and T 4.8 in the FS rules.
Internal Combustion
FSAE - The firewall must protect the driver against the fuel supply, oil, cooling lines, and any lithium batteries.
Construction
Most teams construct the firewall out of a layer of composite (usually carbon fiber) on top of a layer of "insulating" material. The specific sandwich panel material is less impactful for heat management to the driver compartment than the mandatory 1" of air gap between the exhaust and the firewall. There is almost no better insulator than air, and moving air is even better. Since the firewall cannot be touching the exhaust, most heat blocked by the firewall is in the form of IR radiation and is easily solved by applying a layer of reflective material. Commercial automotive solutions are available and often sponsor FSAE teams. In a pinch, aluminum tape can be used for this purpose.
The firewall must be sealed. Teams either accomplish this by implementing a rubber-like seal or gasket around the firewall to the cockpit or by taping across the gap between the firewall and the cockpit opening at competition. Because the firewall has to be removed during inspection, the tape will have to be re-applied.
Position
Since the firewall has to be between the driver and the engine, many teams use it to support the seat as a structural element of the cockpit. If the seat used for actual drivers is removable without removing the firewall, the firewall can be used as the "seat" for the Percy template during tech inspection, and the seat will be considered "padding".
EVs
The EV firewall is subject to much more stringent rules.
Construction
The firewall layer facing the tractive system must be a grounded layer of aluminum, FSAE removed the requirements in the 2024 season specifying that the firewall must be between 0.5mm and 0.7mm thick, and the layer facing the driver must be electrically insulating. The driver facing layer MUST not be made of carbon fiber, as it has unpredictable and non-zero conductive properties. Frequently, fiberglass is chosen as a substitute. Because the backing layer has to be a solid sheet of aluminum, a composite sandwich core is not necessary to obtain structural rigidity as it would be for an ICE firewall.
