MW 50 (from German: Methanol-Wasser ) is an aircraft piston engine boost system developed by German engineers in the middle of World War II . This system made it possible to increase engine power at altitudes of up to 5000 m by 10-15% for a period of up to 10 minutes under normal flight conditions (after which a break of at least 5 minutes was required) or up to 5 minutes during air combat due to injection into the engine cylinders mixtures of water with methanol .
Initially, experiments were carried out both with pure water ( MW 0 ) and pure methyl alcohol ( MW 100 ), as well as MW 30 (69.5% distilled water, 0.5% Schutzol 39 anticorrosion agent and 30% methanol). But the best results were obtained for mixtures of MW 50 (respectively - 49.5%, 0.5% and 50.0%) and MW 75 (75% methanol, 25% water), and the most widespread were installations using the composition MW fifty.
Air from the drive supercharger of the engine was supplied to the tank with this mixture, after which the mixture was fed to the inlet of the same supercharger through an automatic electric valve . The pressure of the water-methanol mixture was shown by a pressure gauge on the dashboard. The pilot also had an electric metering valve switch and an injection adjustment knob. The consumption of the water-methanol mixture was about 160 l / h, while the fuel consumption also increased.
Application
- Messerschmitt 109
This system was equipped with Messerschmitt Bf.109 fighters starting with the Bf.109G-6 modification (the most popular Bf.109 model, put into production in late autumn 1942). The forced power of the DB 605 AM engine at an altitude of 1000 m without the use of a mixture of MW 50 was 1575 liters. with., with its use reached 1800 liters. With., at an altitude of 4100 m, the capacity was 1700 liters. from.
The power increase provided a corresponding increase in the maximum speed of the Bf.109G-4 fighter by approximately 40 km / h, giving the fighter pilot an additional advantage in air combat .
However, fuel consumption during take - off when using the MW 50 was 640 l / h (without this system - 480 l / h). The use of afterburner significantly reduced the duration of the flight, and also required the replacement of spark plugs after 15-30 hours of operation.
- Focke-wulf 190
The system was intended to be installed on the early A-4 series of Focke-Wulf Fw.190 fighters with a BMW 801 D2 engine (June 1942 ). However, the supply of MW 50 devices in a timely manner could not be established, so the A-4 aircraft did not actually have this device.
In practice, the MW 50 system appeared only on the Fw.190 A-8 model (January 1944 ), although the possibility of understaffing aircraft of earlier versions remained. Such machines were used in the African corps .
The increase in speed of the FW.190A due to the use of the MW 75 turned out to be noticeably lower (by 15β20 km / h), therefore, German designers preferred to boost its BMW 801D engine by briefly (by 1-3 minutes) boost boost while significantly enriching the fuel -air mixture (on the dashboard to enable the mode there was a button "Increase flight qualities").
Nevertheless, the BMW 801E engine, which was installed on the Fokke-Wulf later series, was equipped with an MW 100 injection system with a flow rate of 300 kg / h.
Engine power Jumo 213 on the FW-190D increased to 2100 liters. from. At the same time, an increase in flight speed to 670 km / h was achieved at an altitude of 6400 m. The mixture for the system was in a separate 118- liter tank. The system was also used on his successor, Focke-Wulf Ta 152 .
- Messerschmitt 210
The Messerschmitt Me.210 S-1, S-2, S-3, and D-1 heavy fighter variants were equipped with DB 605B engines with a MW 50 device.
See also
- GM-1 (high altitude afterburner system using nitric oxide)
Links
- Engine magazine - The heart of the fighter
- "Wings of the Luftwaffe" ch. Messerschmitt Bf.109