I know this sounds like blasphemy becuase of the implications on the car's volumetric efficiency and power, but can there be a case where the packaging and and thus aerodynamic benefits of a certain manifold design, (for example log manifold ) actual give it precedence on an F1 car over an equal length manifold?
There would be a noticeable loss in power, but how much power really?
The log manifold has some things going for it if we think about cooling flow through the packaging etc. Yes there are issues with tuning and pressure waves etc.
After seeing renault and their front exhausts you cant help but think engine power can be sacrificed for other benefits.
these do take up quite some space. To be clear I'm not endorsing the log manifold to be used any time soon, just going out on a limb on this one.
There must be a way to package an equal length manifold more efficiently, even with the use of oval sections for aero benefits.
The log, or something close to it would be the desperation move. Especially for an engine with power to spare like the Mercedes.
riff_raff wrote:ringo,
A modern, stepped F1 header design produces lots of additional torque at its design point. It's more than worth the additional weight and space it occupies.
With regards to a "log" manifold design, it would have one serious drawback, in that there would likely be unacceptable flow interferences and short circuiting between adjacent cylinders with the long duration valve timings that an F1 engine uses. With 4 exhausts discharging into the log manifold at 180deg intervals, and an exhaust period of maybe 320(?) crank degrees per cylinder, there would always be two cylinders interfering with each other. The header avoids this problem by isolating the flows with individual primary tubes.
Of course, another alternative is using individual primaries and no collector. It would not be as efficient as a merged header, but it sure looks cool on Top Fuel and Funny Car drag racers.
riff_raff
Riffraff, now that we have V6 with midbank turbo. The log manifold is looking like a good design path.
We could be looking at something like this.