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performance calculations for the Maybach IVa WWI aero engine

Maybach IVa liquid-cooled 6 -cylinder inline engine 245 [hp](182.7 KW)

German engine rating : 248.4 [PS]

introduction : November 1917 country : Germany importance : ***

applications : Rumpler C.VII, Hansa-Brandenburg W.19

max. continuous(take-off) rating : 245 [hp](182.7 KW) at 1400 [rpm] at 1800 [m] above

sea level

high compression engine : cannot run at full power at sea level,

constant power to height : 1800 [m]

no reduction, direct drive, valvetrain : OHV

General information :

Like all engines of that time, the previous Maybach design, the Mb IV, lost at high altitude as much as half of the nominal power of 240 horsepower. The new Maybach Mb IVa of 1916 was the first engine designed to overcome this limitation.[1] It did not use a supercharger, but a much more primitive solution. The engine had purposely "oversized" cylinders, and a significantly higher 6.08:1 compression ratio. It was tested on Wendelstein (mountain) at an altitude of 1800 m and rated there at 245 hp. This would theoretically correspond to rating of about 300 hp at sea level; however, the engine was not designed to withstand such power - it needed to be carefully throttled down at low altitude, so it would not exceed the safe level of 245 hp. It had three carburettor settings, to be changed during the flight depending on the altitude.

The engine was falsely given a rating of 260 hp (190 kW) at sea level, so it would not appear inferior to the engines it replaced.

fuel system : oil system :

weight engine(s) dry : 400.0 [kg] = 2.19 [kg/KW]

bore : 165.0 [mm] stroke : 180.0 [mm]

Mechanical efficiency/mean pressure correction factor : 0.659 [ ]

valve inlet area : 49.9 [cm^2] two inlet and two exhaust valves in cylinder head

gasspeed at inlet valve : 25.3 [m/s]

invloed hoogte > cm : 0.15 [ ]

lean mixture

throttle : 99 /100 open, mixture :13.0 :1

compression ratio: 6.08 :1

calculated compression ratio : 6.08 : 1

high compression engine cannot run with full power/throttle at sea-level (only for short period)

published volume (displacement): 23.100 [litre]

calculated stroke volume (Vs) : 23.093 [litre]

compression volume (Vc): 4.546 [litre]

total volume (Vt): 27.639 [litre]

hoogte motor : 108 [cm]

power / stroke volume (litervermogen Nl): 7.9 [kW/litre]

Maybach Mb.IV Blueprint

torque : 1246 [Nm]

engine weight/volume : 17.3 : [kg/litre]

average piston speed (Cm): 8.4 [m/s]

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intake pressure at 1800 [m] altitude Pi : 0.84 [kg/cm2]

mean engine pressure (M.E.P.) at 1800 [m] altitude Pm : 6.27 [kg/cm2]

compression pressure at 1800 [m] altitude Pc: 8.00 [kg/cm2]

estimated combustion pressure at 1800 [m] Pe : 32.01 [kg/cm2]

exhaust pressure at 1800 [m] Pu : 3.29 [kg/cm^2 ]

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compression-start temperature at 1800 [m] Tic: 377 [°K] (104 [°C])

compression-end temperature at 1800 [m] Tc: 575 [°K] (302 [°C])

caloric combustion temperature at 1800 [m] Tec: 2344 [°K] (2071 [°C])

polytroph combustion temperature at 1800 [m] Tep : 2299 [°K] (2026 [°C])

estimated combustion temperature at 1800 [m] Te (T4): 2286 [°K] (2013 [°C])

polytrope exhaust temperature at 1800 [m] Tup: 1430 [°K] (1157 [°C])

exhaust end temperature at 1800 [m] Tu: 1277 [°K] (1004 [°C])

*********************************************************************************

calculations for take-off/emergency power at sea level

intake pressure at sea level Pi : 0.98 [kg/cm2]

rich mixture 11 : 1 applied for cooling > carburettor adjustable in flight by the pilot

compression pressure (TO power) at sea level Pc: 9.04 [kg/cm2]

estimated combustion pressure at sealevel Pe : 27.19 [kg/cm^2 ]

compression-start temperature at sealevel max rpm Tic:466 [°K] (193 [°C])

compression-end temperature at sealevel max rpm Tc:697 [°K] (424 [°C])

caloric combustion temperature at 1800 [m] Tec: 2233 [°K] (1959 [°C])

mean engine pressure at sealevel max rpm Pm : 7.09 [kg/cm2]

emergency/take off rating at 1414 [rpm] at sea level : 280 [hp]

bruto emergency/take off rating at 1414 [rpm] at sea level : 285 [hp]

Thermal efficiency Nth : 0.363 [ ]

Mechanical efficiency Nm : 0.742 [ ]

Thermo-dynamic efficiency Ntd : 0.269 [ ]

design hours : 808 time between overhaul : 63

Maybach Mb.IV Aircraft Engine

fuel consumption optimum mixture at 1400.00 [rpm] at 1800 [m]: 55.81 [kg/hr]

specific fuel consumption thermo-dynamic : 223 [gr/epk] = 299 [gr/kwh]

estimated specific fuel consumption (cruise power) at 1800 [m] optimum mixture : 302 [gr/kwh]

estimated sfc (cruise power) at 2250 [m] rich mixture : 303 [gr/kwh]

specific fuel consumption at 1800 [m] at 1400 [rpm] with mixture :13.0 :1 : 305 [gr/kwh]

estimated specific oil consumption (cruise power) : 21 [gr/kwh]

Literature :

Air power world

This day in aviation

Smitsonian National air and space museum

DISCLAIMER Above calculations are based on published data, they must be

regarded as indication not as facts.

Calculated performance and weight may not correspond with actual weights

and performances and are assumptions for which no responsibility can be taken.

Calculations are as accurate as possible, they can be fine-tuned when more data

is available, you are welcome to give suggestions and additional information

so we can improve our program. For copyright on drawings/photographs/

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(c) B van der Zalm 31 May 2020 contact : info.aircraftinvestigation@gmail.com python 3.7.4