REFLECTOR: Air Filters on IO-550N

[Brooke Wolf]

Thanks Craig.  This is good stuff and going into my files.

Brooke
> 
> 
> From: "Craig and Denise Woolston" <cdwoolston at sbcglobal.net>
> Date: May 20, 2011 8:52:05 AM EDT
> To: "'Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list'" <reflector at tvbf.org>
> Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Air Filters on IO-550N
> Reply-To: Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list <reflector at tvbf.org>
> 
> 
> No biggie on the questions, sorry for the late response, I was out of town yesterday.
>  
> Yes, I used whatever Tupperware (for a form) from the kitchen would fit under the cowl without making it have to be pushed up and was the correct amount of sq. inches of filter area based on the equations that Bracket Air Filters recommends.  Then for $25 he custom cut the air filter materials and now I have my own part number to order from him for the same price.
>  
> I have 1/8” hole drains in the bottom of each side of the filter.  And I used a stainless steal mesh to capture the two foam air filters on either side.  No other mitigations, like alternate air, though.  My theory is the chance of BOTH becoming clogged is low.  I feel it’s on the probability order of the engine failing for some other reason.  The NACAs really don’t stick up in the wind so anything other than ice I don’t think can get in there.  If there is enough to clog the inlet of the NACA I probably have more airframe ice then she can handle.  And any ice that makes it down the throat I feel will be turned to water by the engine heat.  I have cowl temperature sensor and even on at -15 OAT I have seen 60 degrees in the cowl area.  I have never flown in ice so it’s just a theory at this point.  I have flown in lots of bugs and never found any evidence in the filters.  I have replaced the filters twice; you can actually see the silicon content in the oil analysis go up when they are dirty and drop back down after changing them.  I have flown in rain and seen no issues.  I have never flown with them off to see how much pressure I’m losing.
>  
> Yep, 3” SCAT and aluminum tubing fiber glassed into sides of NACA to give them something to clamp too.
>  
> Craig
>  
> From: reflector-bounces at tvbf.org [mailto:reflector-bounces at tvbf.org] On Behalf Of Brooke Wolf
> Sent: Wednesday, May 18, 2011 7:49 AM
> To: reflector at tvbf.org
> Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Air Filters on IO-550N
>  
> Very interesting Craig.  It looks like a rather elegant design.  Can I assume that your filters are in each side of the "breadbox" forward of the prop spinner?  Is that 3" scat tubing you are using?  Did you design any unfiltered, alternate air sources to mitigate a clogged filter (ice, dust, bugs, debris, etc)?
>  
> Sorry for all the questions, but inquiring minds................
>  
> Thanks
>  
> Brooke
>  

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